After a thumping 6-0 win in their first home game of the season against Valencia, Barcelona return to action tomorrow evening, this time in the UEFA Champions League.
Hansi Flick’s men are kicking off their campaign in the European event away from home, owing to delays in the reopening of the Spotify Camp Nou with all required permissions.
And the trip to Newcastle, where they will play at St. James’ Park, will be a big challenge for Hansi Flick & co.
So far this season, the English side has won only one of their four Premier League games, with two draws and a defeat in the other three outings. Their style of football, however, is a major threat to Barcelona’s dynamics and structure.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Newcastle United vs Barcelona.
Back to square one, once again
Barcelona’s form across all competitions last season led many to believe that the UEFA Champions League was theirs to lose. They were the favourites to advance to the final against Inter Milan and everything appeared set for that to be the case.
Eventually, however, the team’s inexperience cost them, and a few mismanaged minutes saw them throw away a win and convert it into an elimination, breaking not only the hearts of players but also fans.
The dream of lifting the UCL trophy, thus, did not come true last season, and the focus immediately shifted to the next edition – the one that begins tomorrow for the Catalans at St. James’ Park.
Every season, Barcelona and the team faithful believe that this is the year they will conquer Europe again, and tomorrow the Blaugrana will again return to action in the competition with exactly that dream in mind.
The road ahead is long, especially if the club wishes to go all the way. However, they will look to get off on the right foot tomorrow as they embark on their journey to the ultimate dream once more.
Selection dilemmas
Hansi Flick and Barcelona take on Newcastle. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Barcelona’s performance against Valencia gave fans and the manager reason to cheer after three straight unconvincing performances from the Catalans. Concurrently, however, it now hands Hansi Flick new dilemmas ahead of his selection of Thursday’s XI.
On the night, the likes of Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, and Frenkie de Jong were all unavailable through injury, and Roony Bardghji, Gerard Martin, and Marc Casado took their places in the lineup respectively.
The former two are not back in the dynamics for tomorrow’s game as well, while the latter is, and selection questions linger around the manager as he prepares his best XI for the challenge in England.
For starters, the manager must decide if De Jong merits his place in the XI back immediately, especially given how Casado did exceedingly well in the previous game and formed a solid partnership with Pedri.
The midfield decision, needless to say, may well be decided more on a tactical basis than merely a question of merit.
The second selection question that lingers around the coach is in the forward line. Bardghji, after all, may not merit a start in the UCL after just one gam,e and Raphinha may start on the right wing with Marcus Rashford playing on the left.
The centre-forward position, moreover, is one that leaves Flick in a serious dilemma, for he must choose between Ferran Torres’ effectiveness and Robert Lewandowski’s experience after the latter made a strong case by scoring a brace in his cameo against Valencia.
Need for a defensive shake-up?
Will Christensen start vs Newcastle? (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
While the selection questions in midfield and the forward line are primarily from a rotation and competition front, the manager concurrently has massive decisions to make in defence – albeit from a tactical standpoint.
Newcastle United boasts of a potent attack, especially in the air. Their aerial threat is a well-documented strength, but Barcelona’s aerial defence is known to be a weak link in recent years and there is no doubt that the hosts will look to cause damage in that route.
Flick’s decision for the game at St. James’ Park, thus, revolves around the centre-back combination that can provide the best aerial cover while minimally interfering with the team’s buildup and offside strategy.
Pau Cubarsi and Eric Garcia did well against Valencia, but the same combination is unlikely to start tomorrow, for they will be overwhelmed by the aerial attacks and are not equipped to protect against that danger.
All signs thus point to one of, or both of Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo, starting for Barcelona tomorrow night.
Whether the manager switches both centre-backs for the Araujo-Christensen combination or retains Cubarsi and pairs him with one of the two players remains to be seen. In case of the latter, his decision of which player should start will also be key.
A lot, thus, rides on Flick’s defensive selection, and it will be interesting to see how the manager plans to counter the known and documented threat.
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