The first test for FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League is now upon the Catalan giants. As they welcome Belgian champions Royal Antwerp to the Montjuic Stadium, fans of La Blaugrana will be extremely excited to see their team light up the European stage.
Mark Van Bommel’s team comes with a good repute from their domestic competition, and Barcelona will do well to stay mindful of them. Regardless, this is a game that the Catalan giants will want to win at all costs.
With the match set to kick off soon, Barcelona have released their official starting XI for their opening fixture in the UEFA Champions League Group Stages of the 2023/24 edition.
In goal, as is guaranteed at this point, starts German goalkeeper and Barcelona captain Marc Andre Ter Stegen. The Barca number 1 will be expected to keep Antwerp at bay just as he did to Real Betis in the last fixture played by the Catalan club.
In front of him, Frenchman Jules Kounde is paired up with Danish defender Andreas Christensen as they cover the central parts of Barca’s defensive structure against their Belgian opposition.
On either side of them starts the dynamic combo of Spanish fullback Alejandro Balde and Manchester City loanee Joao Cancelo. Both electric fullbacks will be hoping to showcase their strengths in this opening UCL fixture.
In the midfield regions, Dutch maestro Frenkie De Jong starts as the team’s primary pivot. The Dutchman is accompanied by German veteran Ilkay Gundogan as well as Spanish youngster Gavi, both of whom combined with De Jong make up the midfield trio for Barcelona.
Finally, the attack consists of Polish striker and Barcelona talisman Robert Lewandowski starting as the team’s primary number 9. The wings are covered by Portuguese star Joao Felix and Brazilian winger Raphinha, rounding up the entire team for the highly anticipated European encounter.
