Barcelona will be aiming to get their Champions League Group C campaign off to the best possible start when they welcome Viktoria Plzen to Camp Nou on Wednesday night.
The Catalan outfit will enter the match off the back of a 3-0 win over Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday, while Plzen recorded a 1-0 victory over Slovan Liberec in Czech Liga in their last game.
Match preview
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Barcelona found it difficult in their opening match of the 2022-23 La Liga season, being held to a goalless draw by Rayo Vallecano, but they have been excellent in their last three matches, recording three victories, scoring 11 times in the process and conceding just once.
Xavi's side will now be bidding to begin their European campaign with a victory, and Group C is set to be a fascinating section, with Inter Milan and Bayern Munich also present alongside Barcelona and Plzen.
The Catalan outfit failed to make it through the group stage of last season's Champions League, finishing third in Group E behind Bayern and Benfica, and it is now seven years since they last lifted the European Cup.
Barcelona were able to add a number of high-quality players to their squad over the summer despite their financial issues, including Robert Lewandowski, who has scored four times in his last two appearances, and the Poland international is certainly capable of firing the team to European success.
The matches against Plzen are likely to be crucial in this section, and Xavi's team will be bidding to keep their run of wins going, as they prepare to take on Plzen, Cadiz, Bayern and Elche in their next four games ahead of the September international break.
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Plzen are the reigning champions of the Czech First League, which saw them book their spot in the second qualifying round of the 2022-23 Champions League.
Michal Bilek's side have therefore already played six times in this season's competition, beating HJK, Sheriff Tiraspol and Qarabag in order to secure their spot in the group stage of the tournament.
Plzen are going to have to do something remarkable in order to advance through this section, but their run of European wins this season should mean that confidence is high, while the club have also been strong in the early stages of their league campaign, picking up 16 points from six matches to sit second.
The visitors will enter this match off the back of four straight wins in all competitions, including a 1-0 victory over Slovan Liberec in the league on Saturday.
Bilek's side, who last played in the group stage of the Champions League in 2018-19, have faced Barcelona on two previous occasions, with both fixtures taking place in the group stage of the 2011-12 tournament, and the Catalan outfit won 2-0 at home before recording a 4-0 victory away.
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Team News
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Barcelona have no fitness or suspension concerns ahead of this match, but head coach Xavi is likely to take the opportunity to rest a couple of players on Wednesday night.
Eric Garcia could come out of the back four for Andreas Christensen, while Gavi might be given a rest in midfield, with Frenkie de Jong potentially coming in for a start.
Ousmane Dembele is another who could be pulled out of the side at this stage of the season, with Ferran Torres potentially featuring alongside Raphinha and Lewandowski in the final third.
Ansu Fati is getting closer to starting matches for Barcelona, but the club are still being careful with the youngster due to his recent injury record, so he could again be used off the bench here.
As for Plzen, Petr Pejsa is a long-term absentee due to a serious knee injury, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape ahead of the contest at Camp Nou.
There could be a change in the final third from their league contest at the weekend, with Tomas Chory potentially taking the place of Fortune Bassey.
Plzen often line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and that should again be the case for this match, with Jan Sykora, who scored against Slovan Liberec on Saturday, set to feature as the number 10.
Barcelona possible starting lineup:
Ter Stegen; Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Balde; De Jong, Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Lewandowski, F Torres
Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:
Stanek; Holik, Hejda, Pernica, Jemelka; Kalvach, Bucha; Kopic, Sykora, Mosquera; Chory
We say: Barcelona 3-0 Viktoria Plzen
Barcelona have won their last three matches 4-1, 4-0 and 3-0, and we are finding it very difficult to back anything other than a strong home victory here. Plzen could have a tough time in the section, and we are expecting Xavi's side to start their 2022-23 European campaign with a comfortable success.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
