Barcelona vs BSC Young Boys: Preview and Prediction

Barcelona will look to bounce back to winning ways when they host BSC Young Boys on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League.

Barcelona suffered a defeat at the hands of AS Monaco on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League and will now look to return to winning ways when the host BSC Young Boys at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.

The Catalan giants were on a scintillating run heading into the game against AS Monaco. Barcelona were expected to come out on top without much difficulty. But, a red card to Eric Garcia early in the game spoiled the party, and they ended up losing 2-1.

While the Blaugrana did bounce back with consecutive wins in La Liga, Flick’s team dropped points in the league for the first time in their last outing as they lost 4-2 to Osasuna. Barcelona dominated the ball but were not at their best in the final third, and it cost them the game.

Barcelona will look to bounce back, while BSC Young Boys will look to script history. They will be hoping to create an upset by taking down one of Europe’s heavyweights. The Swiss outfit lost 3-0 to Aston Villa on Matchday 1 of the UEFA Champions League and will hope to put in a much better performance here as they look to come out with something from this game.

The visitors are also heading into this one on the back of a defeat at the hands of Grasshoppers. They created more chances but could not make the most of it. They will have to be at their very best if they want to take down the Catalan giants. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Barcelona

Eric Garcia will be unavailable for selection following the red card that he picked up against AS Monaco. The Spanish international joins Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Ronald Araujo, and Andreas Christensen, who are out injured.

Frenkie de Jong, who is yet to feature for the Catalan giants this season should be a part of the matchday squad for this one. Hansi Flick made quite a few changes to the starting eleven for their last outing, and it cost them big time. He will revert to the preferred team for this fixture, and his side will line up in the 4-3-3 formation.

Inaki Pena will continue in goal, while Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde should be the full-backs. Inigo Martinez will return to the starting XI and pair up with Pau Cubarsi in the heart of the defence.

With Eric Garcia out, Marc Casado should feature in the centre of the park alongside Pablo Torre and Pedri. The young trio will look to control the tempo and ensure they have the majority of the ball. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will both return to the starting lineup. They will provide width to their attacks, while Robert Lewandowski will be leading the line for them.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; Casado, Torre, Pedri; Lamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha

BSC Young Boys

Patrick Rahmen will be without the services of Saidy Janko, Patric Pfeiffer and Facinet Conte. Apart from the trio, he doesn’t really have anything else to worry about.

The visitors will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation where David von Ballmoos will be in goal.

Teenage sensation Zachary Athekame will take charge as the right-back while Jaouen Hadjam will be on the opposite flank. Mohamed Camara will pair up with Tanguy Zokrou in the heart of the defence.

Cheick Niasse will form the double pivot with Sandro Lauper. The duo will look to shield the backline and ensure Barcelona midfielders do not end up dominating the ball too deep in their half.

Joel Monteiro and Ebrima Colley will feature on the flanks. They will look to provide width to their attack while Filip Ugrinic will be the attacking midfielder.

Silvere Ganvoula will be leading the line for the away team.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Van Ballmoos; Athekame, Camara, Zoukrou, Hadjam; Niasse, Lauper; Monteiro, Ugrinic, Colley; Ganvoula

Key Stats

• Barcelona’s seven-match winning streak in La Liga came to an end in their last outing against Osasuna.
• The Catalan giants haven’t featured in a Champions League semi-final since the 2018/19 season.
• The Swiss club have never made it past the group stage of the UCL but with the new format in place, they will be eager to make it happen this time out.
• Hansi Flick’s team have now suffered two defeats in their last five outings.
• The Spanish giants have scored two or more goals in seven out of their last eight outings.

Player to Watch

Lamine Yamal

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