Champions League

Barcelona with substitutes. What line-up will they play in Pilsen?

The last big game for Plzen in the Champions League is here. In the Doosan Arena they will welcome Barcelona, who, like Plzeň, will not qualify for the knockout stage and thus have nothing to play for in the last match. They will therefore field some substitutes for the duel with Viktoria.

Published

2 years ago

1. 11. 2022

David Beňo

Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona — Zdroj: FC Viktoria Plzeň

The first player who will get a chance to play is goalkeeper Iñaki Peña. It will be the 23-year-old goalkeeper’s first official start for Barcelona. At the press conference, coach Xavi himself declassified it, as well as another name.

The 19-year-old talent, who arrived from Racing Santander, will play in the starting line-up for the first time. So far he has only played 14 minutes in La Liga and twice for ten minutes in the Champions League.

Goalkeeper Iñaki Peña arrived in Barcelona’s youth in 2012 and has been part of the first team since the 2018-19 season. Last season, coincidentally, he faced Barcelona as an opponent when the Catalans faced Galatasaray in the Europa League, where he was on loan.

Torre is considered a great talent and all the big clubs in Spain wanted him. At Barcelona, meanwhile, his adaptation is taking longer than expected, but he is still a very young player. He made his debut for the Blaugranas on 7 September against Plzen, when he started for 10 minutes.

In the defence, injuries are hampering Barcelona, with four stoppers Araujo, Koundé, Christensen and García out. According to the Spanish daily SPORT, the defence is expected to run a line-up of Bellerín – Piqué – Alonso – Alba.

The suspended captain Sergio Busquets will be replaced by Frenkie De Jong, while Pedri and Gavi will be rested and replaced by Franck Kessié and Pablo Torre. Forward Robert Lewandowski did not travel to Plzeň at all, only Ousmane Dembélé will remain on the bench.

Raphinha – Ansu Fati – Ferrán Torres should make up the attacking trio. Ter Stegen, Dembélé, Pedri, Balde, Gavi and youngsters Ilias, Casadó, Alex Valle, Sanz and Tenas will remain on the bench.