Predicted teams AS Monaco-Barcelona: Ansu Fati is back as Hansi Flick looks to answer the key question
Barcelona will make their European debut on Thursday night at 21:00 CEST, as they travel to AS Monaco for their first “league stage” match. Hansi Flick will have Ansu Fati back from injury and available for the first time, but is not expected to make too many changes.
The only key question facing Flick is how he will go about replacing Dani Olmo in his midfield, after he has been ruled out for the next month with a hamstring injury. Sport I believe Ferran Torres will come into the side, with Raphinha moving into Olmo's role.
Meanwhile MD also predict the same XI. It would be a surprise if Flick had to start Fati from the beginning, and the reality is that he has few other options to replace Olmo, with Pablo Torre, Pau Victor or moving Pedri forward the main options. It included the couple of 16-year-old cousins in the team, Guille and Toni Fernandez also, with Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Marc Bernal all out.
Adi Hutter is without Radoslaw Majecki, but otherwise has a pretty clean bill of health. It is planned to use Breel Embolo up front, and a pacy defense of Vanderson, Thilo Kehrer, Mohamed Salisu and Caio Henrique. Monaco defeated Barcelona 3-0 in the Joan Gamper trophy, a pre-season friendly, and will undoubtedly hope that their counter-pressure can work with the same effect.
#FCBarcelona do their #UCL he debuts against a Monaco side that beat them 3-0 in pre-season.
Ansu Fati is back for what could be his first appearance for Barcelona since August 13, 2023. MD predicts that the only change will be Ferran for the injured Dani Olmo though. pic.twitter.com/q4ZONEIWTg
— Football España (@footballespana_) September 19, 2024
