Barcelona-Antwerp is a match valid for the first day of the Champions League group stage and is played Tuesday at 9 p.m.: lineups, predictions.
Xavi’s Barcelona, unlike last year, has been drawn in a group largely within reach. The blaugrana should therefore have no problem accessing the knockout stage that they have resoundingly missed in the last two seasons, relegating to the Europa League on both occasions.
In Group H, Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and freshman Antwerp, which qualified for the group stage of the continent’s most important event for the first time in its history, will try to counter the predictable leadership of the reigning Spanish champions. It was a memorable feat for the Belgians, coached by Mark van Bommel, which in a way parallels their title victory: last June, the red-and-whites became Pro League champions thanks to a goal by experienced defender Alderweireld in the midst of a recovery in the decisive match against Genk. It was not a foregone conclusion that they would make it through the last preliminary round as well, since they were facing Aek Athens, executioners in the previous round of the better-ranked Dinamo Zagreb. And instead, Antwerp got the better of both the first leg and the return leg (1-0 and 1-2), already crossing a prestigious finish line.
The feat of Antwerp
In the league, van Bommel and his men have lost a few points on the road but are coming off a very clear 0-3 thrashing last Friday at Westerlo.
Antwerp players
It was also a happy weekend for Barça, who made a meal of Betis at the Olympic “Companys” stadium – renovations have begun at Camp Nou – where Pellegrini’s green-and-whites were overwhelmed 5-0 (two new signings Joao Felix and Cancelo scored). Fourth win in a row for Xavi, whose only misstep remains the deadlocked draw in the opener with Getafe, the only reason why the blaugrana are not on full points with Real Madrid. Barcelona has grown game after game, especially in terms of scoring: in the last three days they have scored a beauty of 11 goals in total. The Catalan coach will have to do without only the long-suffering Pedri and Araujo.
The Prediction
Antwerp pulled off a minor sporting miracle by qualifying for the group stage and, barring unlikely exploits, all the cards to play for third place with Shakhtar Donetsk. It will be very complicated, however, to avoid defeat in Catalonia against a Barcelona that has now come out of the run-in phase. The total goals will be at least three, considering that the Belgians certainly do not play defensive soccer.
Barcelona-Antwerp likely lineups
- BARCELONA (4-3-3): ter Stegen; João Cancelo, Koundé, Christensen, Marcos Alonso; de Jong, Romeu, Gündoğan; Ferran Torres, Lewandowski, João Félix.
- ANVERSA (4-2-3-1): Butez; Bataille, Alderweireld, Coulibaly, De Laet; Keita, Vermeeren; Muja, Ekkelenkamp, Balikwisha; Janssen.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 3-1
