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FC Barcelona is the absolute favorite to win the UEFA Champions League this season with the right squad depth they have at the moment. There are still a few key points to keep in mind, or they will end up having a shocking loss as they did against Roma last season in the Champions League. FC Barcelona drew Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan as the competitive teams in their group. Ernesto Valverde will, however, come up with great tactics but there are some notes he will need to break the deadlock against Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs in this year's Champions League.
#1 High Intensity
With already a demo version of how Manchester United turned down all opportunities that Spurs created, Barcelona should take a point from them. However, there was a tweak in United's performance, but there shouldn't be any tweak in Barcelona's adjustment. High aggression up the field or High pressing is everything that Barcelona would need to close down Spurs and knock them out early.
#2 Formation Play with Instructions
Another key to the lock is the formation. However Barcelona will use their regular squad, I, as an analyst would prefer them to use 3-4-3 with Coutinho, Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez up front. Jordi Alba and Semedo/Sergi Roberto play the Wingback role for the team with Lenglet, Pique and Umtiti instructed to stay back while Busquets still being the backbone in the midfield.
However, we know this formation is just a fantasy. The preferred choice will be 4-3-3, but if Jordi Alba and Sergi Roberto or Nelson Semedo can fulfill the wing back positions for high pressing and simultaneously defend for the team, alongside Busquets staying back while attacking, it would be great for already get one step ahead of Spurs.
#3 Target Ben Davies
Kieran Trippier is a world-class wing-back. But we make sure it is heard as a wing-back. Which means he has so far only delivered results when he was a wingback and not a proper right-back. It is very probable that Pochettino will instruct Trippier to get in the attack and help the team, which also results in Davies also attacking. Now Davies is not such class like Trippier being able to be all around at the same time, in this point, the likes of Coutinho's creativity and Dembele's blistering speed should make runs behind and outplay the wingers. In case they want backup they have another class player Jordi Alba to run down and link up with Lionel Messi.
#4 Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
The most important thing for Barcelona will be in-form Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. With these two linking up well on top, no team in the world could ever actually catch them. The likeness of Coutinho and Dembele's masterclass will be expected, but if all the four men match their link-up play together, Tottenham will stand no chance to defend FC Barcelona, and if Barcelona plays this tactic in their home ground, expect a disaster game for the Lilywhites being the visitors. Luis Suarez has fitness issues, and Barcelona should be careful and they should bench him for the league match occurring days before the Champions League match just in case to have a fit and fresh Uruguayan who is hungry for goals.
