Lamine Yamal and Raphinha
Villa will have to deal with Lamine Yamal and Raphinha on Tuesday(Image: Getty Images)
Aston Villa will be aiming to take a significant step towards the Champions League knockouts on Tuesday evening.
But there’s just one thing standing in their way - the small matter of Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Villa travel to Catalonia having won each of their opening league stage games against Viking, Fenerbahce and Club Brugge, with another victory potentially seeing them strengthen their grip on a place in the next round.
Barcelona have been in imperious form under Hansi Flick so far this season. They sit top of La Liga after winning ten of their opening 11 games, while they’ve also scored 11 times in just three Champions League games this term.
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But an injury crisis has taken hold at the Camp Nou, which has seen boss Flick shuffle his pack over recent weeks. And that could well be the same as they prepare to host Villa in what promises to be a tantalising affair.
Starting in goal, Flick appears to have settled on Joan Garcia as his number one instead of Wojciech Szczęsny. But the defence in front of the stopper has a slightly unfamiliar feel to it.
Ex-Manchester City man Joao Cancelo should be stationed at left-back, while youngster Brian Fariñas is expected to be selected on the opposite flank despite being a conventional midfielder. Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia and Xavi Espart are all injured.
Those issues have also seen Dutch playmaker Frenkie De Jong deployed at centre-back. He fulfilled that role in the weekend’s 6-1 win against Alaves and is expected to do so versus Villa.
Frenkie de Jong
Frenkie de Jong could play at centre-back vs Barcelona(Image: Getty Images)
De Jong will likely be joined at the heart of defence by Pau Cubarsi. Moving into midfield, ex-Manchester City captain Rodri should start for Barcelona and will be joined in by Pedri and Fermin Lopez.
But it’s in attack where Villa will have the most worries. Raphinha, who has already scored 17 goals in all competitions this term, will likely lead the line and will be joined by recent Kopa Trophy winner Lamine Yamal. The youngster is also enjoying a stunning season, with 12 goals and 11 assists to his name already.
There is then a dilemma over who to play on the left. Karim Adeyemi started against Alaves but it seems likely that England’s Anthony Gordon will be drafted back in. Gordon, 25, has three goals and five assists since his summer switch from Newcastle.
Barcelona predicted XI vs Aston Villa: Garcia; Cancelo, De Jong, Cubarsi, Farinas; Lopez, Rodri, Pedri; Gordon, Raphinha, Yamal.
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