FC Barcelona can move up to second place in the Champions League group phase providing it beats … [+] Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
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FC Barcelona can move up to second place in the Champions League’s league phase providing it beats Borussia Dortmund away on Wednesday.
As he communicated at his prematch press conference on Tuesday, however, Barca head coach Hansi Flick knows that will be no easy task in a “fantastic stadium” with an “amazing atmosphere”, which is also “very complicated” to get a positive result in.
“We really like to play in this type of atmosphere. We have to take advantage of it. It gives the team extra motivation. Against Bayern, Madrid… it is something we have seen. We have shown the quality we have. It’s normal that during the season we fail from time to time, but I have total confidence in my team.
“I see how they come in, how they work. They give everything in training. Maybe in some sections we haven’t been able to give 100%. We have three games ahead of us in 2024 and we want to move forward. There are only a few days to breathe, but we must make an effort,” Flick demanded.
In goal will be Inaki Pena, who in his own press conference said that “playing in these kinds of games is a dream”.
Though Ronald Araujo has received medical clearance to play, it will be Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez teaming up in central defense with Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde to the right and left of them respectively.
The pivot keeping Frenkie de Jong out of the starting XI is Marc Casado, who has Pedri in front of him plus a Dani Olmo that played in the Westfalenstadion a number of times for his last club RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
Up front, it is Lamine Yamal on the right wing, Raphinha on the left, and ex-Dortmund target man Robert Lewandowski looking to prolong his stay at the top of the Champions League scoring ranks.
For Barca, this fixture can serve not just as a way of climbing up the UCL league phase charts, but also boosting morale ahead of hosting Leganes in La Liga at home on Sunday.
FC Barcelona Starting XI Vs. Leganes: Inaki; Balde, Inigo, Cubarsi, Conde; Marriage, Elm, Pedri; Leaf, Lewandowski, Lamine
