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

With Catalonia experiencing torrential weather, it is in Barcelona’s best interest that their next game is on the road. However, Wednesday night’s clash is not scheduled for any mere stadium but one of football’s most daunting arenas.

Tomorrow night, Hansi Flick’s men return to action in the UEFA Champions League. Having taken apart Bayern Munich in their last outing in the competition, they are the heavy favourites but they face an in-form Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade.

The Serbian giants may have endured a rough start to their campaign in the UEFA Champions League, but they are unbeaten in the Mozzart Bet Superliga and sit on 37 points after 13 games with 12 wins and a draw.

Furthermore, Crvena Zvezda are ten points clear of the second-placed OFK Beograd and have scored 43 goals and conceded just eight. In comparison, Barcelona have scored 40 goals and conceded eleven goals in 12 league games.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Red Star Belgrade vs Barcelona.

Flick’s high standards

“I told the team I would accept the second half because they’ve done great work until now, but I won’t accept something like this on Wednesday,” Hansi Flick told the media after Barcelona’s 3-1 win over Espanyol on Sunday night.

After all, the hosts were dominating the proceedings in the Catalans derby on the night, taking the game to Espanyol’s box and putting the result to bed by going 3-0 up in the first half.

What followed after the break, however, was uncharacteristic from the league leaders. While they did not err significantly, they lost complete control of the proceedings and handed Espanyol the impetus.

With misplayed passes, uninspired pressure off the ball and an unstable double-pivot, the opponents saw more of the ball than Barcelona would have liked and threatened to get back into the game.

Needless to say, it did not go down well with Flick and the manager was very clear with his words that he will not accept the same in tomorrow’s game.

The German tactician’s system is indeed very demanding and keeping up that level of energy and focus twice a week is unsustainable.

However, Barcelona have maintained complete control of games more often than not this term and will look to get back into the same zone tomorrow in a difficult game. The focus, thus, is not only on the result but the dominance of the team on Wednesday.

A start for Frenkie de Jong?

A start for Frenkie de Jong? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Frenkie de Jong was strongly rumoured to be a starter in the Catalan derby, but the manager placed him on the bench on the night – handing Marc Casado, Pedri and Dani Olmo the tickets instead.

The Dutchman did indeed come on in the second half to replace Casado, but he failed to hold up the double-pivot alongside Pedri and looked a shadow of the version he displayed in El Clasico.

It is thus clear that Casado is an irreplaceable starter for Barcelona while Olmo is undeniably the team’s best attacking midfielder by far. The question thus erupts over the third place in midfield where Flick may consider a rotation.

On any normal day, Pedri would be the best placed to join the aforementioned duo. Prioritising rotations, however, it may be the best time for the manager to call upon De Jong to fill in alongside Casado tomorrow night.

The captain has featured in five of Barcelona’s six games after his return from injury but is yet to record a start, and Belgrade may be the place where he is finally entrusted with the responsibility.

Not only will it help the player garner more confidence as he returns to his best but also provide Pedri some much-needed rest in the hectic calendar.

An atmosphere to conquer

Crvena Zvezda are one of Eastern Europe’s most iconic sides in its own right and boast of one of the most terrifying stadiums in world football and an atmosphere that can make even the best crumble.

Crvena Zvezda and Barcelona last faced off 28 years ago as their last official game was back in 1996 when their country was still called Yugoslavia.

Over the years, the Serbian team’s home ground – Stadium Rajko Mitic – has seen several special games, but a constant feature through those nights was the incredible atmosphere that amps up the pressure.

Few stadiums in Europe have the aura that their home ground shows with voices roaring down ruthlessly on the opposition and turning the venue into a pressure cooker where even the best are forced into mistakes.

Crvena Zvezda have lost all three of their European games so far and are virtually in a must-win situation if they are to keep their qualification hopes alive.

Needless to say, the venue will be housefull tomorrow with the supporters having an extra reason to urge their men forward on a night when they are the clear underdogs.

It will thus be a big test for Barcelona’s relatively inexperienced and young core who are not exposed to playing in such stadiums. If they can hold their nerve, the Catalans could well cruise to a win.

As learnt from the game against Monaco, however, a single slip-up is enough to make them pay.