Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Olympiacos | UEFA Champions League

Barcelona play host to Olympiacos, the Greek footballing giants, on Tuesday evening at Montjuic as a part of Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League’s league stage.

Jose Luis Mendilibar, former Actual Valladolid, Osasuna, Sevilla and Deportivo Alaves supervisor, is now the coach of the Greek giants and has good expertise in dealing with Barcelona from his time in La Liga. His report in opposition to them, nonetheless, is woeful.

Thus far this season, Olympiacos haven’t but received a sport within the Champions League however are in second place within the Tremendous League and only a level behind leaders and home rivals PAOK.

As they head to Barcelona to lock horns with Hansi Flick’s facet tomorrow, they boast of three wins and two defeats of their final 5 video games.

Barça Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Barcelona vs Olympiacos.

On a tightrope

Had Barcelona held on within the ultimate minutes of their sport in opposition to PSG on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Champions League, they’d have not less than taken a draw and seen the defending champions drop factors as properly.

Having dropped all three factors, nonetheless, Barcelona now don’t have any a lot cushion in the event that they want to qualify straight into the top-8. In spite of everything, the brand new format of the competitors’s league section continues to be comparatively unknown.

Barcelona do certainly have comparatively straightforward opponents to face within the coming match days, however provided that they’re but to face Chelsea away from dwelling as properly, it’s best that they maintain a cushion by successful all their remaining video games.

The conflict in opposition to Olympiacos tomorrow , evidently, falls into the class of ‘simpler video games’ within the hierarchy of the Blaugranas’ UCL schedule and taking all three factors regardless of the harm state of affairs, thus, will probably be important.

A brand new look assault?

Hansi Flick’s plans for the midweek sport took an enormous blow when it got here to gentle that each Raphinha and Ferran Torres won’t make it again in time to affix the squad and are thus dominated out.

Provided that Robert Lewandowski is unavailable for the sport too, the supervisor stares at a state of affairs the place he has solely Lamine Yamal as a daily starter in assault that’s obtainable.

Pressed for choices within the division, Flick was seen experimenting with various attacking setups forward of the midweek sport, and will probably be attention-grabbing to see which setup he finally opts for on the evening.

The large information, evidently, is that Flick tried out a Roony Bardghji-Marcus Rashford-Lamine trident in coaching. In spite of everything, the Swedish teen did properly coming off the bench within the final sport and is an choice to begin.

Additionally on the supervisor’s thoughts is the opportunity of utilizing Fermin Lopez as a left-winger on the evening with both a Marc Casado-Frenkie de Jong-Pedri midfield or a Casado-Pedri-Bardghji midfield.

With so many choices on his platter and different names from the academy standing out as potential candidates as properly, Flick should rigorously weigh the professionals and cons of all of the choices and guarantee he chooses probably the most apt lineup doable.

Momentum wanted

Barcelona’s win over Girona on the weekend left gamers, followers and spectators with a rush of adrenaline, one which many say may properly be a binding issue for the dressing room to push arduous and carry out higher.

What the sport didn’t present, nonetheless, was momentum because it as soon as once more highlighted the lacunae in defence, disconnect in power and lack of synergy within the staff.

Barcelona meet Actual Madrid in lower than per week, and Los Blancos are at the moment flying with an in-form Kylian Mbappe, a assured younger core and even Vinicius Jr. returning to full swing.

What Flick and Co. will search for tomorrow, thus, isn’t just three factors however a consequence that brings momentum again on their facet, not solely when it comes to assault but additionally defensively.

One sport with a reassured plan on the again, regular build-up play and well-executed assaults can’t solely present a high-scoring win as was the norm final season but additionally momentum.

There could also be only one sport earlier than the Clasico, however the consequence on Tuesday evening will account for lots of what occurs on the weekend. A assured Barcelona, in any case, can nonetheless take Actual Madrid aside so long as they consider in themselves.