Barcelona’s Champions League journey begins with a trip to face AS Monaco in the opening fixture of the new season. The Catalan giants are currently in a dominant form, having won all five of their La Liga matches so far. However, their injury woes continue to mount, adding another layer of complexity to their upcoming clash.
The latest casualty is new signing Dani Olmo, who will be sidelined for four to five weeks due to injury. His absence will be a significant blow to Barcelona’s starting lineup, adding to the already lengthy injury list. Key midfielders Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Marc Bernal, along with defenders Ronald Araujo and Andreas Christensen, are also unavailable for the match.
Despite Barcelona’s injury concerns, they face a Monaco side that is performing well domestically. With three wins and a draw in Ligue 1, they currently sit third in the French league. However, facing a strong Barcelona side in top form presents a significant challenge for Monaco. The home side will be hoping to give it their all on the pitch, aiming to pull off an upset against the La Liga leaders.
The match between Monaco and Barcelona will be officiated by Dutch referee Allard Lindhout, with Dennis Higler taking charge of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) duties. This clash promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both sides aiming to make a strong start to the new Champions League season. The battle between Barcelona’s attacking prowess and Monaco’s defensive resilience will undoubtedly be a key factor in deciding the outcome of this highly anticipated match.
