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| Borussia Monchengladbach vs Barcelona – Match Preview | Image: FCB |
FC Barcelona will be looking to continue their fine UEFA Champions League form when they take on German club Borussia Monchengladbach on Wednesday night in a game that promises to be a thrilling encounter and a special one for goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen.
Ter Stegen joined the Borussia Monchengladbach academy at just four years old and spent 18 years defending the shirt of the Germans in different age categories. The goalkeeper joined Barça in the summer of 2014 but will make a return to his home and first love when both teams meet at the Borussia Park on Wednesday night.
The Foals didn’t quite start the Champions League campaign the way they’d have wanted after they lost 4-0 to Manchester City in England two weeks ago. They come into the clash from a 2-0 weekend win over Ingolstadt and are on a run of 11 consecutive home victories in all competition.
Barcelona bounced back from a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid by defeating Sporting Gijon 5-0 on Saturday. The Catalans started their CL campaign in style, beating Scottish Champions Celtic 7-0 in the first game with star striker Lionel Messi bagging a hat-trick, the Argentine won’t be available for the game against Borussia Monchengladbach through an injury.
TEAM NEWS
Coach Luis Enrique called up the entire 20 available Barcelona players in the squad to travel to Germany and are without only the injured Lionel Messi and Samuel Umtiti. Right-Back Aleix Vidal is back in the squad but it’s uncertain if he’ll get a nod in the final team.
Arda Turan is set to replace Lionel Messi in the starting lineup although striker Paco Alcacer who previously netted a hat-trick with Valencia against Borussia’s keeper Sommer might also get the nod.
For Borussia, star striker Raffael is a doubt for the game as he is battling with a muscle injury and it’s very unlikely he’ll be fit in time for the game, he will be replaced by Standl although it’s a huge blow for the hosts.
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH VS BARCELONA
Date: Wednesday, 28 September, 2016
Time: 8:45pm CET
Venue: Borussia Park, Monchengladbach
Referee: Damir Skomina
Date: Wednesday, 28 September, 2016
Time: 8:45pm CET
Venue: Borussia Park, Monchengladbach
Referee: Damir Skomina
FORM GUIDE
Borussia Monchengladbach: LLWDW
Barcelona: LWWDW
Borussia Monchengladbach: LLWDW
Barcelona: LWWDW
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Barcelona will be meeting for the first time in an official competition.
Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Barcelona will be meeting for the first time in an official competition.
Predicted Monchengladbach Lineup: Yann Sommer; Christensen, Elvedi, Jantschke; Kramer, Dahoud, Traore, Wendt, Thorgan Hazard; Hahn, Stindl
Predicted Barcelona Lineup: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta; Arda Turan, Luis Suarez, Neymar
BarcaLens Prediction: Despite being without Messi and Borussia Monchengladbach coming into the game with a good home form, I think Barça will still come out tops – Borussia Monchengladbach 1-3 Barcelona.
