Three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Feyenoord | UEFA Champions League | OneFootball

Seventeen goals scored in just four games with three clean sheets and two goals conceded. Those are the numbers for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona this season, and it is safe to say that they have started the season very strongly.

Four matchdays into La Liga, the second competition of the new season finally enters their schedule. Indeed, it is the UEFA Champions League that returns to the Spotify Camp Nou tomorrow as Barcelona take on Feyenoord in an early kick-off.

The Dutch side have won three and drawn two of their five league games so far this season and have scored 13 goals in the process. They have, however, faced defensive issues and only registered one clean sheet.

Going up against Barcelona’s red-hot attack at the Catalans’ fortress, needless to say, will be their toughest challenge yet,

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Feyenoord.

Is this the year?

The UEFA Champions League has become a perennial dream for Barcelona and the club’s fanbase, but only heartbreak returns year after year as the club falls short in some capacity.

While they fell painfully short against Inter Milan two seasons ago, horrendous refereeing cost them the tie against Atletico Madrid last season.

Now, they are set to enter the UCL for the third time under Hansi Flick, and there is a real sense of belief that this could be their year.

After a productive summer transfer window, Barcelona boast a squad that is firing on all cylinders, and their start to the new season has been excellent so far.

For the first time under Flick, the high defensive line does not look to be a liability while the midfield has a real sense of control and defensive stability. Without a natural number nine, the attack is flourishing so far as well.

There is still a long way to go in the competition, but it is clear that Barcelona face their best chance in years this time around. Starting the competition strong, in that sense, is crucial.

Tomorrow, they face their first big European test and will look to carry forward the same momentum that has defined them so far this season. 

Right-back doubts

Who will replace Eric Garcia at right-back? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Eric Garcia suffered a blow in Barcelona’s game against Valencia at the weekend and was forced to leave the field out of precaution.

It has come to light that the player’s setback is not as major as expected, but he will be unavailable for the team’s game against Feyenoord tomorrow as he is suspended carrying forward last season’s sanction.

With the first-choice right-back absent, the natural idea will be for Jules Kounde to start in that position. The Frenchman, however, has largely looked like Barcelona’s only weak link whenever called upon this season and the manager thus faces a dilemma.

There is no doubt that Kounde improves Yamal’s output and is an asset in the attacking buildup. His defensive performances, however, are dictated by slackness and lapses in concentration.

Flick, thus, may look for alternative options and Joao Cancelo enters as a strong candidate to play at right-back. With Xavi Espart settling neatly into the left-back role, the Portuguese full-back is a reliable and tempting option to field at right-back.

There is also the option of handing Alejandro Balde his first start of the season at left-back and fielding either Espart or Kounde at right-back.

What is clear is that the manager has plenty of tactical options, and it remains to be seen how he manages Garcia’s absence tomorrow against Feyenoord.

A tricky draw

The change in format of the UEFA Champions League has been a success over the past few years and has altered the complete outlook of the opening stage of the competition.

With eight different opponents and one overall leaderboard, clubs face a much more level playing field with opponents of all calibers allotted to every side.

Barcelona’s draw in the UCL this time around, however, is extra tricky for even their ‘easy’ clashes are against challenging opponents who are more than capable of creating upsets.

Manchester City and PSG are the two big names Barcelona must face in the league stage and will be their two most difficult match-ups.

One step below that, however, are Aston Villa, Como, Sporting CP and Galatasaray – presenting four matches which could well go either way. While Barcelona are indeed favourites against all the aforementioned sides, they are all tricky in their own sense.

The two games against Feyenoord and Sabah FK, on that front, are Barcelona’s easiest games of the draw, and taking all three points against them is seen to be vital.

With every passing matchday, the scope to drop points decreases further. Barcelona will be aiming for a top-8 finish to avoid the extra round, and their fight against the tricky draw begins tomorrow night.