FC Barcelona Versus Juventus Preview, Team News, Starting Lineup

With Josep Bartomeu resigning last night as president, FC Barcelona must now rectify poor form which sees them managing just one victory in their last four outings.

Luckily for them, their Champions League opponents on Wednesday, Juventus, aren’t exactly blowing opponents away under new coach Andrea Pirlo and will be without Cristiano Ronaldo.

Nevertheless, Pirlo’s opposite number Ronald Koeman still expects a thrilling encounter.

“It’s a match between big teams that want to go a long way in the tournament. It’s important that we get a good result, [playing] a [type of] football we want. We respect Juventus very much. It’s a high-level match,” said the Dutchman at his prematch press conference on Tuesday.

At the Juventus Stadium, where Barça have never won in the tournament, Neto will start in goal.

Returning for El Clasico in fine form, at least for the first hour of the 1-3 loss, Jordi Alba slots in at left back alongside Clement Lenglet, rookie Ronald Araujo – given Gerard Pique’s red card suspension – and a Sergino Dest that was the Catalans’ best player on the pitch against Real Madrid.

Miralem Pjanic not given the nod against his former employers, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets form a double pivot partnership in the 4-2-3-1.

In front of them, teenagers Ansu Fati and Pedri man the left and ring wings respectively, while a hamstring knock to Philippe Coutinho means Antoine Griezmann is afforded the role down the middle he has craved in replacing the Brazilian as a central attacking midfielder.

Up top, false 9 Lionel Messi seeks his first goal from open play in 2019/2020.

“I’ve always been a coach who wants a winning mentality,” Koeman stressed yesterday, when questioned on his side’s rut and reliance on goalscorers.

“It’s another thing to play all attack and not think about defending. In front of you there is a high quality team. We have to play our game, dominate the match with depth, [and] hurt the opposition. We must seek balance between attacking and defending.”

Starting their UCL campaign with a 5-1 win over Ferencvaros last week, a loss would not be a disaster for the visitors. Yet it would do little to boost morale when their previous domestic success has been derailed and they currently loom in 12th in the La Liga table.

Juve aware of how the ‘wounded lion’ could react, this could be the match that Messi finally breaks his shell and comes roaring out of the tracks since deciding to stay put at the club.