Barça is forbidden to fail against Young Boys

Win or win. There are no other options for Barcelona this Tuesday in the Champions League. The team led by Hansi Flick faces Young Boys at Lluis Companys in a match marked by the defeat against Osasuna in La Liga and, above all, by the slip of the Catalans in Monaco two weeks ago. The new format of the top continental competition and the low profile of the opponent force the Blaugranas to achieve a victory that serves to correct their course and regain confidence.

«The pressure to win is always there, but we have to erase the Monaco game. We don't have points now, but we play at home against a good team that has earned, by right, its place in the Champions League. We are confident of winning. This and the upcoming matches are important, and we need fresh legs,» said Flick at the pre-match press conference against the Swiss champion. The German coach downplayed the «mistakes» made against Osasuna and emphasized the importance of «collecting as many points as possible now» with the new Champions League format.

This is the main concern for a Barcelona that knows its margin for error is almost nil. Only 8 out of 36 teams directly qualify for the round of 16, and another slip against Young Boys would condemn the Blaugranas to a miracle in the last six rounds, with tough opponents like Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, or Benfica. Winning, therefore, is the only way out for a team that started the season strong but has been hit by repeated injuries and two defeats that have brought Flick's men back down to earth, something that doesn't worry the German coach. «I am very optimistic. If we have to earn respect again, we will,» he said.

To earn that respect, Flick will have to face the match with injuries to Ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Gavi, Dani Olmo, and Fermín López. The one who will be back after five and a half months on the sidelines is Frenkie de Jong, a player Flick eagerly awaits. «It's great news, even if it's just five or ten minutes at first,» he said. The Dutchman will not start in an eleven that will return to the structure that achieved seven consecutive wins in La Liga. Cubarsí and Iñigo Martínez will be in defense, Marc Casadó will return to his position in midfield, and upfront will be the three players making a difference: Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski, and Raphinha will be the main threat to Young Boys.

Barça needs to win and, if possible, do so by a significant goal difference. Flick knows this and will field his full arsenal; so do the players, aware that they will face one of the weakest opponents in the competition. Despite being Swiss league champions, Young Boys have had a disastrous start to the season under Patrick Rahmen's management. The Swiss coach took over from Joël Magnin this summer after just three months despite winning the title. The change hasn't been fruitful; they've only managed one win and three draws in their first eight matches, leaving them second last in their domestic league standings. This poor form was compounded by their Champions League debut defeat against Aston Villa. They now travel to Lluis Companys hoping for a break from this bad streak but with injuries to Conte, Janko, and Pfeiffer.

Barcelona: Iñaki Peña, Koundé, Cubarsí, Iñigo Martínez, Balde, Marc Casadó, Pablo Torre, Pedri, Lamine Yamal, Lewandowski y Raphinha.

Young Boys: Von Ballmoos, Athekame, Camara, Zoukrou, Hadjam, Colley, Lauper, Niasse, Monteiro, Ugrinic y Ganvoula.

Referee: Erik Lambrechts (Belgium).

Stadium: Lluis Companys.

Time TV: 21:00 h. Movistar Liga de Campeones.