BARCELONA
Possible lineup for Barcelona against Monaco in Champions League opener
Dani Olmo’s injury provides a minor setback for Flick with the new signing expected to miss at least a month with a hamstring injury as Barça travel to Monaco.
FC Barcelona head to the principality of Monaco for their Champions League opener as they face Les Rouges et Blanc who have also started well in Ligue 1 with Adi Hütter’s men sitting in third place in the table with three games and one draw from their opening four fixtures.
Dani Olmo is the main absentee for the Catalan side who have a 100% LaLiga record so far this season as Hansi Flick’s men sit aloft the LaLiga table with 15 points. Ferran Torres is expected to be drafted in to replace Olmo for the Thursday night test at the Stade Loius II.
With De Jong, Gavi and Fermin still out of the team through injury, Flick has limited options to play in a match that is expected to be a tough test to the new UCL league format with memories still vivid of how Monaco secured a 0-3 win at the recent Gamper Tournament.
Ter Stegen; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Balde; Casadó, Pedri; Lamine, Raphinha, Ferran; and Lewandowski are all set to start for Barça with Pedri set to start in an attacking midfield capacity.
Despite his sending off in Girona, the German coach is content with what Ferran has offered in his opening games and with ‘El Tiburon’ suspended for the Villarreal league clash, the head coach will be happy to see him push himself tonight in Monaco.
FC Barcelona (vs AS Monaco): possible XI
Ter Stegen; Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo, Balde; Casadó, Pedri; Lamine, Raphinha, Ferran; and Lewandowski.
The Champions League action at the Stade Loius II gets underway at 3pm (ET).