Barça's Biggest Challenge Starts in Monaco

Extending euphoria to Europe. That is Barcelona's goal this Thursday in Monaco. The team led by Hansi Flick makes its Champions League debut with a dangerous match. The danger stems from the happiness surrounding the Blaugrana squad, the bad memories from recent years in the top continental competition, and especially because the opponent knows how to hurt Barça, having done so just six weeks ago. The Joan Gamper match, which ended 0-3 for the Monegasques, fueled Flick's project, and now it's time for revenge and to make a statement in Europe.

"You can't compare the Gamper match with this one. We are more focused on the competition, and the players know what they have to do. We face a very strong rival, a very good team, but we know we are starting the best competition in the world and we are ready and on the right track," Flick stated in the pre-match press conference. The German coach knows that his opponent gave him his worst night as a Blaugrana, but he also knows that Barça has transformed significantly in a month and a half.

The Blaugranas arrive at their Champions League debut with feelings diametrically opposed to those shown at the Joan Gamper. That day everything went wrong. The culés missed chances, were fragile, and even raised doubts physically. Nothing like the avalanche that has been unleashed since the league started. Flick's team now dominates all aspects of the game, knows that commitment can be an anecdote, and has traveled to Monaco with the idea of making a strong statement.

Starting on the right foot is key for Barça. That's why Flick will not make rotations beyond those forced by injury. Ansu Fati returns to the top continental competition two years later after overcoming his physical problems, but Araujo, Christensen, Gavi, Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong, Dani Olmo, and Fermín López will be absent for the same reason; Fermín López being the latest to relapse after completing part of the session with the group. These absences will condition an eleven where Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez will return to defense, Marc Casadó will play alongside Pedri in midfield, and Raphinha could return to attacking midfield to leave his spot on the wing to Ferran Torres.

Facing them will be a team that recently upset Barça and has enough weapons to surprise again. In the Gamper match, Monaco offered an exhibition of defensive strength and demonstrated significant physical power. Adi Hütter's pupils will step onto Stade Louis II aiming to repeat their feat but are aware that Flick's team has improved. "We can't take that match as a reference because since then they have made five wins in five games," said the Austrian coach this Wednesday in the pre-match press conference.

Monaco arrives at this encounter in great form. They have accumulated ten out of twelve possible points in Ligue 1, and their key players like Zakaria, Camara, or Golovin enjoy significant prominence. Last weekend, they managed a 0-3 victory over Auxerre at Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps, so they will arrive buoyed for their duel against Barça with all their players except Edan Diop and Radoslaw Majecki, both injured.

Monaco: Köhn, Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Caio Henrique, Camara, Zakaria, Ben Seghir, Golovin, Akliouche and Embolo.

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde, Casadó, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Ferran Torres and Lewandowski.