Four wins and one draw in the league, with 15:1 goals. In addition, the convincing 5-1 win at the Champions League opener against Viktoria Pilsen. Thanks to coach Xavi and a personnel change in the summer, FC Barcelona has stabilized and reinvented itself after turbulent years – and seems to be among the extended circle of favorites to triumph in the premier class again.
And this is how the Catalans will perform on Tuesday (9 p.m., in the live ticker at SPORT BILD online) at FC Bayern on…
It’s rumbling at Bayern!
“Players and coaches distance themselves”
Source: IMAGE
For Barça, it’s not a game like any other. Several Bayern spikes are still deep in the flesh of the Blaugrana. Above all, in August 2020, the disastrous 8-2 in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, but also the two 3-0 defeats in the group phase last season, when Barça had no chance and did not even reach the round of 16.
There is good news – from the guests’ point of view – even before the trip to Munich: Robert Lewandowski (34), Bayern scored twice against Barcelona last year, will not score against the Catalans this time. He switched sides in the summer – and is an important, perhaps the most important building block in coach Xavi’s system.
The coach has put together a strong squad and has almost built up a real starting eleven in the recent past. And this eleven will also compete in Munich, writes the Catalan sports daily “Mundo Deportivo”. Of course with Lewandowski at the top, flanked by the currently outstanding ex-BVB player Ousmane Dembélé (25) and Raphinha (25), 58 million new signing from Leeds United. You are currently slightly ahead of super talent Ansu Fati (19) and Ferran Torres (22).
In midfield, veteran Sergio Busquets (34) should play behind the young midfield diamonds Pedri (19) and Gavi (18). The two youngsters have been in the starting eleven in every league game, Pedri also in the Champions League – where Gavi was only a substitute against Pilsen. You enjoy absolute trust with Xavi, ahead of the more experienced Frenkie de Jong (25) and summer new signing Franck Kessie (25/joined free from AC Milan).
The back four of Barça is also peppered with talent. On the left, Alex Balde (18) should again be preferred to Jordi Alba (33) and Marcos Alonso (31). Ronald Araujo (23) and Eric Garcia (21) are well placed in central defence. In all probability, the trained central defender Jules Koundé (23), who came from Seville in the summer for 50 million euros, will appear on the right-hand side. Of course, the German keeper Marc-André ter Stegen (30) is in goal.
