Barcelona will be looking to return to winning ways in the Champions League when they square up against a struggling Eintracht Frankfurt side.
Having failed to win any of their last four matches in the UEFA Champions League, Eintracht Frankfurt will be desperate to get things back on track against Barcelona. While the Catalan giants have not been in the best of form in Europe, they are set to play a European fixture at Camp Nou for the first time in over three years and will certainly go all out to get a positive result.
The home team are 18th on the points table with just seven points in their five outings, with two wins, 1 draw and two defeats. While they secured an impressive 6-1 win over Olympiacos towards the end of October, the Catlan giants lost to PSG prior to that fixture, and they are heading into this one on the back of a 3-0 hammering at the hands of Chelsea.
While their European form does not look promising, they are heading into this fixture on the back of three straight wins in the league. As a result, they will certainly be confident about getting the desired result here.
Meanwhile, the visitors are 28th on the table with just five points in their four outings. While they started their Champions League campaign with a win, Frankfurt have been winless in their last four outings (3 defeats, 1 draw). They lost 5-1 to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool before playing out a 0-0 draw against Napoli.
However, their last European outing ended in a 3-0 defeat against Atalanta. They are heading into this fixture on the back of a massive 6-0 hammering at the hands of RB Leipzig in the league. Given their overall form, they could have a very rough day at the office against Barcelona. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Barcelona
The home team remain without the services of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Gavi, and Dani Olmo because of injury. Meanwhile, Ronaldo Araujo, who was sent off in their last European outing, is on an indefinite break.
Hansi Flick’s team will continue to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs, while Gerard Martin should pair up with Pau Cubarsi in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Frenkie de Jong will start alongside Pedri in the centre of the park. The duo will look to shield the backline and control the tempo of the game.
Lamine Yamal and Raphinha will feature on the flanks, while Fermin Lopez will take up the number ten role. Robert Lewandowski should be lead the line for Barcelona against Eintracht Frankfurt on Tuesday. Both Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres are expected to have cameos off the bench.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Joan Garcia; Kounde, Martin, Cubarsi, Balde; de Jong, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt Predicted XI
Eintracht Frankfurt
The visitors will be without the services of star forwards Michy Batshuayi and Jonathan Burkardt. While these are two significant blows, they do have a boost as Can Uzun and Hugo Larsson returned to their squad against Leipzig.
Eintracht Frankfurt will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Michael Zetterer will be in goal. Rasmus Kristensen and Arthur Theate are expected to be the full-backs, while Robin Koch and Nathaniel Brown will feature in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Mahmoud Dahoud and Fares Chaibi should form the double pivot in the middle of the pitch. They will certainly have a lot of defending to do. Mario Gotze and Jean-Matteo Bahoya are expected to feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks.
Finally, Ritsu Doan will take up the number ten role, while Ansgar Knauff should spearhead the Eintracht Frankfurt attack against Barcelona at the Spotify Camp Nou on Tuesday night.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Zetterer; Kristensen, Koch, Brown, Theate; Dahoud, Chaibi; Gotze, Doan, Bahoya; Knauff
Barcelona vs Eintracht Frankfurt Predicted XI
Key Stats
Eintracht Frankfurt have failed to win any of their last four UEFA Champions League outing.
Meanwhile, Barcelona have only won one out of their last four Champions League fixtures.
Eintracht Frankfurt have squared up against Barcelona twice over the years, and they have been unbeaten on both occasions.
The two teams squared up in the quarter-finals of the 2021/22 Europa League season. Frankfurt secured a 1-1 draw at home and won 3-2 away.
While Barcelona are heading into this fixture on the back of three straight wins, Eintracht Frankfurt have failed to win any of their last three outings.
Player to Watch
Raphinha
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Raphinha was on fire last season as he finished with 34 goals and 26 assists in his 57 outings. While the Brazilian international has carried that form into the new season and has seven goal contributions in his 11 outings, the impact has not been the same.
A hamstring injury sidelined him for a few weeks, during which Marcus Rashford seems to have leapfrogged him in the pecking order. The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in their last La Liga outing, and as a result, he will be eager to make his mark in this fixture against Frankfurt.
Prediction
Barcelona 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Barcelona return to the UEFA Champions League desperate to steady the ship in Europe, and with their first continental game at Camp Nou in over three years, they will expect to deliver. Hansi Flick’s side arrive on the back of three straight league wins, and with Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha all capable of punishing a fragile Frankfurt defence, the Blaugrana should have enough momentum and quality to take control of the contest.
Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, are limping into this fixture after a run of heavy defeats and a worrying lack of cutting edge in Europe. Their 6-0 loss to RB Leipzig only highlighted the issues within the team, and facing Barcelona away is hardly the ideal setting for a turnaround. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Flick and his charges.