Barcelona enter Champions League play in good form under new manager Hansi Flick, and they'll look to get off to a hot start Thursday against AS Monaco. Flick has gotten Barcelona back to the top of La Liga with an eye popping 17 goals scored in only five games, and while Robert Lewandowski has led the way with four goals, it has been a team effort. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha patrol the wings and Dani Olmo has been there in the middle to set everyone up as this team attacks with ease.
Monaco have had a solid start to the Ligue 1 season thanks to strong play from their defense but they haven't faced a team who can attack like Barcelona so this will be a good test to see how far they can go.
Monaco Boss Focuses on Stopping Barcelona's Attack
Monaco boss Adi Hutter has told his team to go ‘all out’ when it comes to defending against Barcelona in the Champions League on Thursday.
Hansi Flick takes his team to France after making a perfect start to the new La Liga season, and Hutter says his players must be brave.
“It’s not easy to defend against them, we have to do it as a team and all row in the same direction,” he told reporters.
“The team has to be very brave and go all out because we don’t just have to get Lamine Yamal out of the game, but also Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Ferran Torres.
Hutter also told his team to forget about their 3-0 win over Barcelona in the Gamper Trophy in the summer and praised his opposite number for the impact he’s made in Catalunya already.
“Barça is very aggressive in attack and defence. I have a great appreciation for what Hansi is doing. We cannot compare him to what he was like six weeks ago and he is already showing it in the league,” he added.
“We cannot take that game as a reference because since then they have won five games in five with 17 goals in their favour, more than three goals per game, that is a lot.
“We know that they have several injured players but they are in top form and I can see that Hansi Flick is improving a lot in the way he plays with his teams.
“I really appreciate his work but we still have faith in ourselves because we have also made a great start to the season.”
Monaco have also made a good start to the season but have a poor home record in the Champions League recently and have lost their last seven in a row at the Stade Louis II.
Barcelona's Predicted Lineup
Barcelona's starting lineup is set to look a little different against Monaco.
Hansi Flick kicks off his first Champions League campaign with the Spanish giants at the Stade Louis II. The manager got Barcelona off to a perfect start in La Liga despite injuries to Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araújo, Ansu Fati and Marc Bernal. The arrival of Dani Olmo helped the Catalans surge to the top of the Spanish league, but the midfielder is the latest Barcelona player stuck on the sidelines.
Olmo injured his right hamstring against Girona at the weekend and will be out for up to six weeks. As Flick gears up for his first European test against the unbeaten Monaco, he must decide who will start in place of his blockbuster signing.
Here's what Barcelona's XI could look like against Monaco in the club's Champions League opener:
Barcelona XI
- GK: Marc-André ter Stegen – The German keeper will hope to record just his second clean sheet in his 2024–25 campaign with Barcelona.
- RB: Jules Koundé – The Frenchman is the unsung hero of this Barcelona side. From his link-up play in the attack to his defensive work in his own half, Koundé is one of Flick's most trustworthy players.
- CB: Pau Cubarsí – The 17-year-old went from winning gold with Spain at the Paris Olympics to starting at center-back for Hansi Flick.
- CB: Iñigo Martínez – Martínez brings experience and reliability to a young backline.
- LB: Alejandro Balde – Against Monaco, the defender will earn his 85th cap for Barcelona at just 20 years old.
- DM: Marc Casadó – After Marc Bernal tore his ACL, Casadó has started alongside Pedri. The 21-year-old recorded his first assist of the season in Barcelona's match against Girona.
- DM: Pedri – The midfielder is one of Flick's most consistent players and proved this weekend that he can push forward and find the back of the net just as well as he executes his defensive duties.
- RW: Lamine Yamal – Fresh off becoming the youngest player in La Liga history to score a first-half brace, Yamal will continue his quest to find his first ever Champions League goal.
- AM: Raphinha – Just two weeks removed from scoring his first hat trick, Raphinha will slot into Dani Olmo's role behind Lewandowski. Although the Brazilian prefers the left-wing, he proved in Barcelona's first three La Liga matches that he can also thrive as a No. 10.
- LW: Ferran Torres – All signs point to Torres getting the nod on the left-wing despite the Spaniard's recent run of unimpressive performances. Flick will likely save Ansu Fati, who just returned from injury, as an option off the bench.
- ST: Robert Lewandowski – Lewandowski will always be the man up top for Barcelona. The Poland captain already has four goals in five La Liga matches and leads the league's Golden Boot race.
How to Watch Monaco vs. Barcelona
Barcelona faces Monaco in a soccer match on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 (9/19/24) at Louis II Stadium in Monaco, France.
Fans can watch the match via a free trial to FuboTV and DirecTV Stream.
Here’s what you need to know:
- What: UEFA Champions League
- Who: Barcelona vs. Monaco
- When: Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024
- Time: 3 p.m.
- Where: Louis II Stadium
- TV: TUDN
- Live stream: FuboTV and DirecTV Stream
Watching the Match from Anywhere in the World
There are a number of really interesting matchups in the first round of Champions League fixtures, including Monaco vs. Barcelona. The visiting side will be favorites to take all three points, but don't rule out Monaco. The French team have started the season very strongly, and will fancy their chances on home turf.
Monaco vs. Barcelona in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 19. This fixture takes place at the Louis II Stadium.
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