Hansi Flick’s Barcelona will look to return to winning ways when they host Brest in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
Brest and Barcelona find themselves in the top half of the UCL points table. While they currently occupy an automatic qualification spot for the round of 16, they will have to win this fixture to ensure they retain their spot.
Barcelona were off to a flying start to the new campaign under Hansi Flick, but they did not have the best of starts in the UEFA Champions League. The Blaugrana suffered a defeat in their first outing but have won each of their last three and are sixth on the table with nine points in four outings.
While the Catalan giants have done most things right, they have not been in the best of forms of late, having failed to win their last two outings. They lost 1-0 to Real Sociedad before the break and ended up playing out a 2-2 draw in their last outing against Celta Vigo.
Meanwhile, the visitors are unbeaten in the Champions League and find themselves fourth on the points table with 10 points in four outings. While they are struggling in the Ligue 1 (12th on the table), their European form has been sensational.
Brest have lost each of their last two games heading into this fixture, and they might find it quite difficult to go up against a star-studded Barcelona outfit despite having a great track record in Europe this season. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
Lamine Yamal has been ruled out of this UEFA Champions League fixture. Meanwhile, Ronald Araujo, Ansu Fati, Andreas Christensen, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Marc Bernal are all unavailable. Ferran Torres and Eric Garcia are closing in on a return and have the slightest of chances of making the squad.
The home team will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Inaki Pena will be in goal. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs while Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez will feature in the heart of the defence.
Frenkie de Jong should return to the XI to pair up with Marc Casado in the centre of the park. The double pivot will look to shield the backline and allow the attack-minded players the freedom to do what they do best. Pedri will be the no. 10, with Dani Olmo and Raphinha on either flank. They will look to create chances for the star-studded Robert Lewandowski.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, Balde; de Jong, Casado; Olmo, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Brest
The visitors will most likely be without the services of Massadio Haidara, Romain Faivre, and Soumaila Coulibaly. Bradley Locko is out with a ruptured Achilles, while Abdallah Sima is a doubt because of a muscular problem.
Ludovic Ajorque is back fit and should start in this fixture. Brest will go ahead with the 4-3-3 formation, where Marco Bizot will be in goal. The back four will be made up of Kenny Lala, Brendan Chardonnet, Julien Le Cardinal, and Jordan Amavi. Lala and Amavi will be the full-backs with the other two in the heart of the defence.
If fully fit, Pierre Lees-Melou will be in the holding role, while Mahdi Camara and Edimilson Fernandes will be in his support. They will look to ensure Barcelona midfielders do not end up dominating the proceedings. Mama Balde and Kamory Doumbia will feature on the flanks providing width to their attacks, while Ludovic Ajorque will be the central striker.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Bizot; Lala, Chardonnet, Le Cardinal, Amavi; Camara, Lees-Melou, Fernandes; Balde, Ajorque, Doumbia
Key Stats
- Brest remain unbeaten in the Champions League with three wins and a draw.
- Barcelona are winless in their last two outings heading into this fixture.
- The Catalan giants have an impressive record against French clubs in Europe having won nine out of their last 14 home games.
- But, Hansi Flick’s team have won only nine out of their last 19 European games at home which is a concern.
- Brest have lost their last three out of their last four games across competitions.
Player to Watch
Raphinha
Barcelona have failed to win games in the absence of Lamine Yamal and with the Spanish sensational unlikely to feature in this fixture, Raphinha who has been in red-hot form will look to ensure the Catalan giants return to winning ways and continue to build on their impressive start in the UEFA Champions League. Having scored 13 goals and bagged 10 assists in his 18 outings, he will surely be the one to watch out for.
Prediction
Brest 1-3 Barcelona
Barcelona have dropped points in their last two outings. They ended up conceding two goals late on in the game against Celta Vigo and had to settle for a draw. This result would have disappointed them, and Hansi Flick will be eager to get his team back on track.
While Brest have an impressive record in the UEFA Champions League, they will struggle to compete with a star-studded Barcelona team. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for the home team.