Lineup FC Barcelona against Red Star Belgrade: Flick makes tactical changes

FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will make three changes when the Catalans face Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Despite sitting nine points ahead of arch-rivals Real Madrid at the summit of La Liga, Barca did not get off to the best start on the continent to the 2024/2025 season with their 2-1 defeat against Monaco.

However, stunning home wins against Young Boys (5-0) and Bayern Munich (4-1) followed, and Flick's men must now navigate what is expected to be a hostile environment in Serbia and try to get a positive result to help them rise Place them in the top eight of the UCL league phase table.

Flick was crucial after Barca lost concentration in the second half of their 3-1 win over Espanyol at the weekend and his team's goals all came in the first 31 minutes.

However, at his pre-game press conference on Tuesday evening, he did not want to dwell on the past.

“I don’t care about the past, I care about the future,” said Flick. “We look forward, I don't compare with what happened, now is the time, we want to play, be successful in the Champions League, win tomorrow. It's a good day for that, that's what we're focusing on.” “

“There are very good teams with the same idea in the Champions League and other competitions, so we have to work hard, go our way and enjoy every game, focus on what we want to do and that's what we do tomorrow “We have to do it,” he added later in his conversation with the media.

Because of the names he uses, Flick will make changes compared to his Espanyol first team.

While Jules Kounde regains his place from Hector Fort, Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez are still there, but Alejandro Balde loses his place to Gerard Martin, who protects Inaki Pena's goal.

The midfield team is also different. Dani Olmo is gone, so Frenkie De Jong can make his season-opening debut alongside Pedri and in front of Marc Casado.

However, the top three are identical to those who are arguably the best in Europe at the moment. It consists of Raphinha on the left, Robert Lewandowski in the center of the Brazilian and Lamine Yamal, who the “Serbian Messi” has promised will appear at the Marakana.