In a crucial Champions League match against FC Copenhagen on Wednesday, FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick will go all out and deploy his most offensive midfield.
The Catalans, who are currently in ninth place in the league phase of the prestigious European competition, need to win all three points against the Danes in order to have a chance of placing in the top eight and ensuring automatic qualification for the knockout stage without having to compete in a playoff match the following month.
Given Pedri’s injury sustained in a 2-1 La Liga loss at Real Sociedad nearly two weeks ago and captain Frenkie de Jong’s suspension due to yellow card accumulation, the midfield combination Flick would choose here has generated a lot of discussion and interest among Culers and commentators alike.
However, the manager is prepared to play as aggressively as possible, with Dani Olmo and Fermin Lopez positioned behind pivot Eric Garcia in the middle of the park. Goal differential may ultimately be the biggest factor in determining who ends where in the standings at the conclusion of the game.
Flick says Barcelona must be at ‘best level’ to finish in the top 8
Barcelona sits ninth ahead of the final round of matches in the league phase, with the same 13 points as seven other teams, including eighth-place Chelsea, seventh-place Newcastle and sixth-place Paris Saint-Germain.
“That’s a sensible strategy. Copenhagen, who also have a lot on the line, will be a difficult opponent. Excuses are something we should never do. That is our mindset. We are confident in our play and style, and this is the Champions League. We’ll need to perform at our highest level.
For the clubs who tie on points, the goal differential is probably going to be crucial. Those in ninth through twenty-fourth place must participate in an additional playoff round, while the top eight automatically advance to the round of sixteen.
Flick stated, “We have to take it step by step.” “Copenhagen has a tremendous team, so we must play this game with respect. To win, we’ll need to score goals, maintain a clean sheet, and play excellent defence.
