Barcelona will host Czech First League side Viktoria Plzen at the Camp Nou in matchday one of the UEFA Champions League. Barca will hope to get their campaign off to a good start, after a couple of forgettable Champions league runs in recent history.
This will be the third time these two sides meet in Europe’s premier cup competition. The two sides were drawn together in the 2011/12 season. Barca won both of those fixtures with an aggregate score of 6-0.
Barcelona has managed to revamp their squad despite spending the majority of their time crying poor. One of the key purchases they made was the purchase of Austrian goal machine Robert Lewandowski.
He has taken to La Liga like a duck to water, having scored 4 goals in his previous two matches.
Viktoria Plzen at Barcelona Champions League Group Stage FYIs
Kick Off: Wednesday, Sep 7, 2022, at 8 pm UK at Spotify Camp Nou
Competition: Group C, Match Day 1 of 6
Watch Info: Click on the banners in this post. Streaming is available via Paramount+
Google Result Probability: Barcelona 92% Plzen 2% Draw 6%
After Extra Time Pod: Spotify Apple
Team News
Barcelona currently has no injury or suspension worries heading into this clash. Xavi might take the opportunity to rotate the squad, but no changes will be forced upon him.
Starting XI Prediction
For the uninitiated, Barcelona usually lines up in a 4-3-3 formation. It is the formation that is currently in vogue if you don’t wish to play three at the back.
In goals, Marc ter-Stegen will start. The latest from a long line of world class German ‘keepers. He is the undisputed number one at the Blaugrana.
Jules Kounde starts at right back, with Alex Balde starting on the left hand side of defense. Ronald Araujo will start at center back. His partner, tough, is not quite as clear. I am going for Andreas Christensen to partner him in defense, giving Erik Garcia a rest.
Gavi earns a rest too, with Frenkie De Jong getting a start. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of reaction he gets from the home crowd. Sergio Busquets plays the deeper role, with superstar pedri starting alongside the Dutchman.
Oussama Dembele drops out of the starting XI with Ansu Fati starting. Ferran Torres comes in for Raphinha. Robert Lewandowski leads the line for Xavi’s men.
Stuey’s Two Cents
There are no two ways about it, Barcelona must return to their Champions League form of old in order to make this extravagant rebuild work. They have mortgaged their long term financial stability on a gamble that they will attain the same success they have in the past.
It’s a dangerous gamble, but it’s done now and Barca has to play the cards they are dealt now. I think they’ll comfortably account for the Czechs here for what it is worth.
Barcelona 4-1
Stuart Kavanagh is a journalist currently residing in Broken Hill, Australia. He writes for the Barrier Truth newspaper, along with being the owner of the sports and entertainment website thepyrrhic.com, He also co-hosts the ‘After Extra Time’ podcast and contributes at edgeofthecrowd.com when time permits.
Football mad, he is always down for debate and discussion at @stueyissickofit on Twitter.