Barcelona will shift their focus to the Champions League for the first time this season on Wednesday evening when they host Viktoria Plzen at Camp Nou.
Having been eliminated at the group stages of the Champions League last season, the Blaugrana will be raring to make it to the knockout rounds and go deeper into the competition. They have started the La Liga season very well, winning three and drawing one game so far.
Xavi Hernandez will expect his side to continue their rich vein of form and start the European adventure with all three points against the Czech Republic outfit.
Barcelona Team News
Barcelona have released their 23-man squad list that will host Viktoria Plzen. New signings Marcos Alonso and Hector Bellerin are still not part of the team as the duo is lacking match fitness.
Miralem Pjanic has been left out of the squad as he is travelling to UAE to complete his move to Sharjah FC, confirmed Xavi.
Predicted Barcelona Lineup vs Viktoria Plzen (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper
Marc Andre Ter Stegen will don the gloves for Barcelona, hoping to start the Champions League campaign with a clean sheet.
Defence
Lining up in a 4-3-3 system, Jules Kounde is likely to partner Andreas Christensen at the heart of the Barcelona defence. Christensen missed the last two games through illness but returned to the bench at the weekend against Sevilla. He will replace Eric Garcia in the Barcelona lineup, with Kounde occupying his natural position in central defence after starring at right-back against his former club.
Sergi Roberto could be handed a start at right-back by Xavi after watching him impress in the limited substitute appearances so far this term. The experienced Jordi Alba is likely to get recalled at left-back to replace Alejandro Balde in the Barcelona lineup.
Midfield
Sergio Busquets is a key player in this setup and will be the deepest midfielder, trying to control the flow of the game for Barcelona. If Xavi decides to rest Gavi, Frenkie de Jong looks ideal to replace the young Spaniard in the middle of the park. Pedri has grown from strength to strength in the last 12 months and deserves to keep his place in the side.
This means Franck Kessie will need to be a bit more patient to make his first start.
Attack
Ousmane Dembele has been excellent in La Liga so far this season but is likely to be rested. The Frenchman could be replaced by Ansu Fati, who deserves a start by now.
Summer signing Raphinha is steadily becoming the key man in the Barcelona lineup and will have the formidable Robert Lewandowski to lead the line for the Catalan giants against Viktoria Plzen. Lewandowski has announced his arrival at Camp Nou in style, and the Polish goal-machine will be ready to switch on his Champions League form.
This means Memphis Depay and Ferran Torres will start on the bench again.
