There is no longer any margin for error. He FC Barcelona It is played this Friday at 9:00 p.m. (Spanish peninsular time) in the Luz Stadium of Lisbon, in the third match of the final at eight Champions League. He Paris Saint Germain and the Leipzig They have already won their ticket to the semifinals, while the Catalans will have to overcome a ‘colossus’ like Bayern Munich to be able to see their faces against the winner of the Manchester City-Olympique de Lyon of Saturday.
For FC Barcelona, the Champions League is salvation. That burning nail that you have to hold onto but which, if it finally turns Barça, will turn a terrible season – the Catalans lost LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spain Supercup– in an outstanding course. Raising the ‘orejona’ is the obsession of Leo messi and of all the barcelonismo since the last championship of 2015 and, with the Argentine plugged in, the faith remains.
The irregularity that the Quique Setien have shown in the game so far or that Bayern Munich are scary with their relentless run of results. At a game, everything is equal and from the FC Barcelona dressing room there is a conspiracy for the Champions League to return to the showcases of the Camp Nou. Faith and illusion exist. The quality too. Three games separate the Catalans from glory and this Friday promises to be a war without quarter.
Discharges from Barça and doubts in Quique Setién’s system
So far, the system with which FC Barcelona has fallen in love the most is with that 4-3-1-2 that shone against him Villarreal -with Leo messi playmaker and Antoine Griezmann and Luis Suarez ahead – and that he also had good moments against Napoli. However, given the potential of Bayern Munich to dominate the game, it would not be strange for Quique Setién to bet on sacrificing the French to reinforce the core and change to a 4-4-2.
Arthur Melo, with a disciplinary record, and Samuel Umtiti, injured, they are the only two casualties of FC Barcelona, but we must take into account that the Cantabrian will recover very important players. Sergio Busquets and Arturo vidal, who did not play against Napoli due to suspension, they will against Bayern Munich to form a partnership with Frenkie de Jong, while Ousmane Dembélé has received the medical discharge and it could have minutes in the second half.
Thus the things, the possible eleven of the FC Barcelona will be: Marc André ter Stegen in goal; Nélson Semedo and Jordi Alba on the sides; Gerard Piqué and Clement Lenglet in the central axis; a midfield formed by Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal, Frenkie de Jong and Sergi Roberto; and a forward with Leo messi and Luis Suarez. If finally the bet was on Antoine Griezmann, Sergi Roberto or Nélson Semedo would fall out of the lineup.
A fearsome Bayern Munich
It is true that we are talking about two extraordinary teams with formidable players in all positions, on paper Bayern Munich looks like the big favorite. Especially at the moment of form in which each of the teams arrives: while FC Barcelona offers doubts in the game and the irregular results of the season, the Bavarians show tremendous solidity in all aspects.
Very to take into account is the streak that Bayern Munich has right now. The team trained by Hans-Dieter Flick has not lost in an official match since last December, at which time he accumulated two defeats in a row: one at home at the end of November against Bayern Leverkusen (1-2) and another away from home, in the field of Borussia Monchengladbach (2-1).
However, that streak of Bayern Munich is even more impressive if it is mentioned that of the 27 games that were played after losing to Borussia Mönchengladbach, the balance has been 26 wins and only one draw at home against him. Leipzig (0-0). Since that ‘stumble’, there have been another 19 consecutive wins that have followed after the break, accumulating 12 wins. An intimidating streak.
German weapons: Lewandowski, Müller …
Bayern Munich has a very coordinated block with a star that stands out above all the others: Robert Lewandowski. This season he has already accumulated 42 goals in 35 games (an average of 1.2 goals per game) and is only one away from equaling his scoring record with the German team, which were 43 goals from the 2016-17 campaign. There is so much euphoria in Germany with him that from some sectors he is placed above Leo Messi.
But behind the Polish striker, there is a team that works solidly and plays great football. Thomas Müller, Author of 21 assists and eight goals this season, he has become a very supportive player. For the bands, footballers like Serge Gnabry The Kingsley Coman they provide the overflow to facilitate the work of their colleagues. Men like Joshua Kimmich The Leon Goretzka they are also key in the spinal cord.
Of course, coach Hans-Dieter Flick could have two very important casualties on the wings: Alphonso Davies on the left and Benjamin Pavard on the right. If ultimately none of them can play, the Bavarian starting eleven could be: New; Kimmich, Boateng, Süle, Alaba; Thiago, Goretzka; Gnabry, Muller, Coman; and Lewandowski. More difficult to enter has it Philippe Coutinho, provided by el FC Barcelona, possibly starting on the bench.
Technical index card of the party: FC Barcelona-Bayern Munich
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