Barcelona vs Ferencvaros predictions and match preview for Tuesday’s game in the UEFA Champions League. Read on for the head-to-head, team news, betting tips and predicted lineups as the Catalans return to UCL action.
- DATE: Tuesday 20th October 2020
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Camp Nou
- COMPETITION: UEFA Champions League (Group Stage)
Barcelona vs Ferencvaros Preview
Barcelona begin their latest Champions League campaign on Tuesday night. In theory, it should be quite a gentle re-introduction to the competition following their humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern in their last European match. Hungarian side Ferencvaros provide the opposition but won’t be expected to provide too much of a test for Ronald Koeman’s side.
The Dutchman suffered his first defeat as Barcelona boss at the weekend. Up against a typically physical Getafe side, the Catalans failed to make First Half pressure pay and succumbed to a Second Half penalty from Jaime Mata. Real Madrid’s home loss to Cadiz on the same day means no serious long-term damage was done by the result but there will as always be plenty riding on this weekend’s Clasico.
With that game on the horizon and in such a congested season, Koeman may well take the chance to rest key men, potentially even Leo Messi here. With Dynamo Kiev and Juventus the other teams in this group, Barcelona shouldn’t have too much trouble securing a top two finish with those games against the Serie A giants likely to determine who wins the group.
Ferencvaros are the rank outsiders in the Champions League and are arguably the weakest of the 32 teams left in the competition. This is their first time in the UCL group stage since the 1995/96 season when they did hold Real Madrid at home but lost 6-1 at the Bernabeu. They were in Spain and indeed Barcelona as recently as last season though, drawing both games against Espanyol in the Europa League group stage.
Coached by former Dynamo Kiev and Tottenham striker Serhiy Rebrov, Ferencvaros successfully defended their Hungarian title last season before enjoying a terrific run in the Champions League qualifying rounds, seeing off the champions of Sweden, Scotland, Croatia and Norway to reach the group stage and set up this glamour trip to Camp Nou.
Head to Head
- This will be the first ever competitive meeting.
Team News
Marc-André ter Stegen, Jordi Alba and Samuel Umtiti are sidelined through injury. Koeman is expected to rest a few of his older players too ahead of the Clasico.
Ferencvaros are likely to line up with what will in practice be a 4-5-1 formation here with Ivorian Franck Boli leading the line.
Predicted Barcelona Starting Lineup:
Neto – Dest, Lenglet, Araujo, Firpo – De Jong, Pjanic – Braithwaite, Coutinho, Trincao – Griezmann (4-2-3-1)
Predicted Ferencvaros Starting Lineup:
Dibusz – Heister, Kovacevic, Blazic, Lovrencsics – Kharatin, Somalia, Nguen, Siger, Isael – Boli (4-5-1)
Barcelona vs Ferencvaros Predictions
Score Prediction: Barcelona 2-0 Ferencvaros
Even if they do field a significantly rotated XI, Barcelona should win this game with a bit of breathing space. Ferencvaros have done brilliantly to get this far and will enjoy their day and they are certainly one of the most competitive club sides that Hungary has produced for many years. However there is still clearly a significant gulf in class which should be evident over the course of 90 minutes.
UEFA Champions League Betting Tips (18+)
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Read our latest Champions League & Europa League match previews.
