Champions League matchday four action sees European royalty pitted against each other. Find our Crvena Zvezda vs Barcelona preview complete with the latest teams news and confirmed lineups.
Crvena Zvezda vs Barcelona Preview
Hansi Flick’s high-flying Barcelona face one of the iconic, and notoriously hostile away trips in Europe as they travel to the Serbian capital on Wednesday night.
Bar their defeat to Monaco on matchday one – only their second of the season in all competitions – the Champions League has proven otherwise fruitful for the Blaugrana.
Their resurgence in form under Flick has been buoyed by a daring style of high-pressing, high-intensity football. Both Real Madrid and Bayern were toppled in the space of a week towards the end of October, with an aggregate score of 8-2.
A blossoming young squad brimming with La Masia graduates have stormed to the top of La Liga, scoring 40 goals in just 12 games and earning a reputation for an audacious offside trap.
Their mettle will be tested with an away trip that typically has players quaking in their boots.
Craven Zvezda – better known as Red Star Belgrade – are too flying high at the top of their domestic league, but European football has so far been unkind to them having tasted defeat against Benfica, Inter and Monaco.
The latter two were heavy defeats on the road, but they return to the Rajko Mitić Stadium – colloquially known as the Marakana – knowing that a typically hostile atmosphere can sway things in their favour.
On home soil they have conceded just five goals in seven matches while avoiding defeat this season.
Hansi Flick’s Barça is a JUGGERNAUT. pic.twitter.com/rwtlUy2atU
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 4, 2024
Crvena Zvezda Team News
Red Star will be without winger duo Peter Olayinka and Nemanja Radonjic, with the former ruled out with an Achilles problem while the latter was forced off in their win over Vojvodina.
Crvena Zvezda top scorer Cherif Ndiaye – who has 10 goals in 14 games is likely to lead the line alongside Bruno Duarte.
Omri Glazer and defender Ognjen Mimovic also remain doubtful for this clash having missed the majority of the season thus far.
Barcelona Team News
The biggest question over Barcelona’s team selection is whether Hansi Flick decides to stick with a mightily effective double pivot of Pedri and Marc Casado in midfield.
Frenkie De Jong and Gavi are pushing for starts after both recovering from long-term injuries, and this midweek European clash may present a perfect opportunity to continue integrating.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Ronald Araujo, Ferran Torres, Marc Bernal, Eric Garcia and Andreas Christensen all remained sidelined.
Crvena Zvezda vs Barcelona Confirmed Lineups
Crvena Zvezda
Ilic; Young-woo, Spajic, Djiga, Rodic; Silas, Krunic, Elsnik, Kanga, Maksimovic; Ndiaye
Barcelona
Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, Martinez, Martin; De Jong, Casado; Yamal, Pedri, Raphinha; Lewandowski
Crvena Zvezda vs Barcelona Prediction
Barcelona have steamrolled nearly every opponent they have faced this season; expect Wednesday evening to be no different.
Few defences have been unable to deal with an in-form Robert Lewandowksi, flanked by the newly crowned ‘Golden Boy’ Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, who finds himself in the form of his life with 20 goals contributions in 15 games.
Coupled with the fact they conceded less than a goal-a-game this term thanks to a stout defence and a suffocating high-press, they should have little trouble in Serbia.
Prediction: Crvena Zvezda 0 – 3 Barcelona
