Barcelona will clash heads with PSV Eindhoven at the Nou Camp hoping to begin their UEFA Champions League campaign with a win on Tuesday evening. The Catalans have been excellent in the La Liga and are currently at the top of the league standings. However, it won’t be an easy outing for them in midweek as they will come up against a strong PSV side who have dominated the Eredivisie so far.
Ernesto Valverde is going to make two changes for this contest as both Phillipe Coutinho and Sergio Busquets are expected to start in midweek. The recent history of this fixture favours the Catalans as they have won two, drawn three and lost just one of their previous six meetings with the Dutch outfit.
4-3-3 Barcelona Predicted Lineup To Face PSV Eindhoven
Defence
The Catalans will line up with Marc Andre ter Stegen in goal. Jasper Cillessen would have to play backup once again and await his opportunity in Valverde’s bench.
Barca would have to rely on the central defensive partnership between Gerard Pique and Samuel Umtiti to keep it tidy at the back against their Dutch opponents. Sergi Roberto will play as the right-back while Jordi Alba would look to use his blistering pace down the left side of the Catalans’ backline.
Midfield
Valverde might decide to bring in Phillipe Coutinho for this contest after the Brazilian featured from the bench against Real Sociedad. Sergio Busquets and Ivan Rakitic could play alongside him as part of the three men Barca midfield.
The trio would be responsible for dominating the midfield battles and retaining possession for the home team at the centre of the pitch.
Rakitic got his name on the scoresheet against Huesca earlier this month so we can expect him to be a threat from midfield while Coutinho normally operates as the orchestrator in Valverde’s starting XI.
Attack
Barcelona’s fantastic front three of Ousmane Dembele, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi would be expected to get the goals against PSV. All three forwards are in a rich vein of form and have the ability to win this match on their own if they are allowed to perform at their peak level.
Malcom might start on the Barca bench and could come on during the encounter to make an impact.
