Hansi Flick’s side have lost just twice all season.
Hansi Flick’s red-hot Barcelona are back in Champions League action on Wednesday night as they take on Red Star Belgrade in the Serbian capital.
Flick’s Barca have dazzled at the start of 2024/25, with the new German coach building his team around the next great generation of La Masia starlets. The La Liga leaders produced an outstanding performance on Matchday 3 against Bayern Munich, thumping the German giants 4-1 in Catalonia.
That victory followed a seamless triumph over Young Boys, but they were beaten away from home by Monaco on Matchday 1 having been forced to play much of the game with ten men.
An impressive goal difference has salvaged Barcelona’s early position in the league phase table with six points, and there’s scope for Wednesday’s visitors to enjoy another productive continental outing in Belgrade. Perennial Serbian champions Red Star are one of six teams yet to pick up a point in the Champions League this term.
While they’re dominating domestically once more, Red Star have been beaten by Benfica, Inter and Monaco in their first three league phase games.
Barcelona’s excellent start to the season has been made all the more impressive given the injury absences Flick has been forced to mitigate.
The German coach has not welcomed back the likes of Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia, and Ferran Torres for Wednesday’s game. Ronald Araujo could return before the end of 2024, while Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marc Bernal are out for the long haul.
Gavi, Frenkie de Jong and Fermin Lopez are contenders to come into Flick’s team in Belgrade.
