Barcelona begin Champions League campaign against unbeaten Feyenoord

Barcelona begin their UEFA Champions League campaign at home to Feyenoord on Wednesday, 9 September, with Hansi Flick’s side aiming to make a strong start to the league phase at Spotify Camp Nou. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:45 GMT (18:45 in Spain).

The Catalan club go into the match in perfect form in La Liga, having won each of their opening four league games. Their latest success came away at Valencia, extending a flawless start to the domestic season and giving Flick’s team confidence ahead of their first European fixture.

Raphinha has been central to that run. Barcelona say the Brazil forward has scored in all four of their league matches so far, registering six goals in total. He will now have the opportunity to continue that sequence against Feyenoord as Barcelona begin their latest challenge in Europe.

Flick will, however, have to manage without Eric Garcia. The defender is suspended for the opening Champions League fixture after being sent off in Barcelona’s final match in the competition last season.

The German manager held a final training session on Tuesday with the players available to him, along with Hamza and Jesse Bisiwu. Barcelona will therefore start their campaign with Garcia unavailable as they seek to establish early momentum in the competition.

Feyenoord arrive in Spain unbeaten in the Eredivisie. After five matches, the Rotterdam club have recorded three wins and two draws, leaving them third in the Dutch league standings.

Their team is managed by Gio van Bronckhorst, the former Barcelona player, who faces his old club in the opening round of the European campaign. Feyenoord will need to be particularly alert to the threat posed by Lamine Yamal.

Van Bronckhorst regards Barcelona as one of the favourites for the competition, adding significance to a fixture in which both sides begin with positive domestic records. Barcelona’s strong start in Spain will be tested by a Feyenoord side that has yet to lose in the Netherlands this season.

The match at Spotify Camp Nou will be Barcelona’s first opportunity to translate their early league form into the Champions League. With Raphinha in scoring form, Eric Garcia suspended and Feyenoord unbeaten after five Eredivisie games, the opening fixture presents clear challenges for Flick’s side despite their perfect domestic record.