By Graham Ruthven
House away from house
The hope was that Barcelona would return to their religious house on the Camp Nou for Tuesday’s Champions League fixture in opposition to Olympiacos. This might have been their long-awaited homecoming.
As an alternative, Barca will play one other recreation at Montjuïc the place they misplaced their final Champions League match to Paris Saint-Germain, placing Hansi Flick’s aspect on the again foot within the League Section.
Barcelona can return to successful aways by beating an Olympiacos aspect that has drawn to Pafos and misplaced in opposition to Arsenal on this season’s Champions League. The Catalans are agency favourites.
Flick’s crew wanted a stoppage time aim to beat Girona at house on Saturday, highlighting how fragile Barca proceed to be in sure matches. Their excessive line of defense will likely be focused by the Greek champions.
Nonetheless, Barcelona will fancy their probabilities of beating Olympiacos as they’ve executed in each house assembly with the membership from Piraeus.
Key gamers
Pedri scored the opener for Barcelona in opposition to Girona on Saturday and is predicted to begin on Tuesday because the midfielder by which a lot of the Catalans’ attacking play flows.
Lamine Yamal performed over an hour in the identical match. Barca are clearly a stronger crew with {the teenager} on the pitch, however with El Clásico looming this weekend there’s no assure he’ll begin once more on Tuesday.
Marcus Rashford is an effective wager to maintain his beginning spot on the left aspect with the on-loan Manchester United attacker firmly in his groove after a gradual begin to life at Barca.
Ayoub El Kaabi bagged a brace within the league win over AEL on the weekend and can pose a menace as Olympiacos’ attacking focus in opposition to Barcelona. Daniel Podence and Chiquinho may additionally bother the Catalans.
Realistically, although, the Greek champions will want their defensive figures to be strong with a view to obtain a constructive outcome, which means goalkeeper Alexandros Paschalakis and centre again Panagiotis Retsos should keep centered.
Group information
Robert Lewandowski will miss out once more after sustaining a hamstring damage whereas on worldwide responsibility with Raphinha nonetheless a doubt having missed the final 4 Barcelona video games.
Joan García and Marc-André Ter Stegen are each sidelined, which means Wojciech Szczesny will proceed in aim, whereas Gavi and Dani Olmo may even be lacking for the go to of Olympiacos to Montjuïc.
In a super world, Flick might need chosen to relaxation a few of his most necessary gamers earlier than Sunday’s Clásico in opposition to Actual Madrid. Nonetheless, accidents may limit his freedom in that regard.
Gabriel Strefezza and Rodinei are each anticipated to overlook Tuesday’s match for Olympiacos. The latter’s damage means Costinha is more likely to step up on the fitting aspect of the Greek outfit’s defence.
In any other case, José Luis Mendilibar has a completely match and obtainable squad to select from for his return to Spain to face an opponent he got here up in opposition to many instances in LaLiga.
Prediction
Kind means that this would be the recreation that Barca use to get again on observe within the Champions League, however as all the time, you may’t all the time rely on Flick’s aspect protecting a clear sheet, so we’ll go along with a confidence constructing house win: Barcelona 3-1 Olympiacos.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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