Borussia Monchengladbach vs Barcelona: Possible line-ups, tactics, stats and prediction

Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez (C) is congratulated by Barcelona's Brazilian forward Neymar (R) and Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (L) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Champions League football match FC Barcelona vs Celtic FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on September 13, 2016. / AFP / LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images)

After steamrolling past Celtic in their opening game, Barcelona face Borussia Monchengladbach in the second game of their Champions League campaign this season.

The Bundesliga side are coming off a heavy defeat to Manchester City in their opening game. They will have to get some points from this match if they want to stand any realistic chance of qualifying for the next stage of the competition.

The Catalan giants will be in no mood to take it easy though, and will look for another huge victory before the big clash of the group against their former manager and club legend Pep Guardiola.

Probable line-ups & Tactics

Borussia Monchengladbach

Die Borussen are no pushovers and they will look to make maximum use of home advantage and restrict Barcelona’s space in the midfield and attack. The three man defence will prove problematic to go up against, even for the likes of Neymar and Suarez.

Monchengladbach are still reeling from the loss of midfield general Granit Xhaka to Arsenal, but have enough tough players like Mahmoud Dahoud and Cristoph Kramer to make things difficult.

They will defend deep and look to hit back at the Catalans on the counter-attack, with forwards Raffael and Andre Hahn in form and ready to go.

Probable Starting XI: Sommer; Christensen, Elvedi, Vestergaard; Hermann; Wendt, Dahoud, Kramer, Standl; Raffael, Hahn

Barcelona

The Blaugrana will be without their talisman Lionel Messi, who has been ruled out for three weeks with injury. However, their strength in depth means that they will not be too worried heading into the game against Monchengladbach.

As always, Enrique will be hoping for a free-flowing, tiki taka style of football from his players. The midfield diamond of Busquets, Iniesta and Rakitic will play a crucial role in building up the attack and feeding the front three.

Brazilian midfielder Rafinha could be asked to play further ahead in the absence of Messi, and he will be raring for the chance to line-up with Luis Suarez and compatriot Neymar to wreak havoc in the opposition defence.

Probable Starting XI: Ter Stegen; Alba, Pique, Mascherano, Sergio Roberto; Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Neymar, Suarez, Rafinha

Stats

Player to watch out for

Neymar

GIJON, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 24: Neymar of FC Barcelona reacts during the La Liga match between Real Sporting de Gijon and FC Barcelona at Estadio El Molinon on September 24, 2016 in Gijon, Spain. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images)

In the absence of Lionel Messi, the Brazilian dynamo will be hoping to get his mojo going once again against the German underdogs.

Neymar was the man of the match against Celtic last time around, scoring one goal and providing four assists. The 24-year-old will be looking to repeat his heroics, this time against a meaner defence.

Prediction

Borussia Monchengladbach 1-3 Barcelona

Although Monchengladbach aren’t an easy team to come up against, the Bundesliga club are simply not in the same class as the Catalan giants. They will look to defend and make sure that they don’t suffer another heavy defeat like they did against Manchester City.

Barcelona are a handful to deal with, even without star player Lionel Messi. They are likely to run all over their opponents and inflict a heavy defeat, but home advantage could help Monchengladbach to put up a fight.

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