FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will go for broke by fielding his most attacking midfield possible in a must-win clash against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Europa Press via Getty Images
FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will go for broke by fielding his most attacking midfield possible, in a must-win clash against FC Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Currently ranked in ninth in the elite European competition’s league phase, the Catalans need all three points on offer against the Danes to stand a chance of finishing in the top eight and guaranteeing automatic qualification for the knockout phase without the chore of having to contest a playoff tie next month.
Considering Pedri’s injury picked up in a 2-1 La Liga loss at Real Sociedad almost a fortnight ago, and a suspension for yellow card accumulation placed on captain Frenkie de Jong, the midfield duo Flick would go for here has been a matter of great debate and curiosity among Culers and pundits alike.
In the end, however, with goal difference perhaps being the great divider on who finishes where in the table come full time, the manager looks set to go as attacking as possible with Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez deployed behind pivot Eric Garcia in the centre of the park.
Garcia being promoted from the heart of defence means that Gerard Martin replaces him there to partner Pau Cubarsi.
Joan Garcia is the goalkeeper of course, with full backs Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde also mucking in to help him try and keep a clean sheet.
Up top, Ferran Torres still doesn’t have starting fitness. This means that Robert Lewandowski is the central target man, with Raphinha and Lamine Yamal – who both scored in the 3-0 drubbing of Real Oviedo on Sunday – to his left and right respectively.
What FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said
“We’re very confident and I hope we can win to qualify for the next round. The most important thing is to do a good job and play at our highest level.”
“We’re only focusing on ourselves and on what is in our hands. That’s a good way to approach it. It will be a tough match against Copenhagen, who also have a lot at stake. We should never make excuses. That’s our philosophy … We have confidence in our style, in how we play, and this is the Champions League. We’ll have to show our best level.”
FC Barcelona Vs. FC Copenhagen Line Up: Joan Garcia; Balde, Gerard Martin, Cubarsi, Kounde; Eric, Fermin, Olmo; Raphinha, Lewandowski, Lamine