On October 20, FC Dynamo Kyiv will play the Champions League group stage matchday 3 game against the legendary FC Barcelona. Kick-off – 19:45. The match will take place at the Camp Nou.
We’re presenting our opponent.
Full name: Futbol Club Barcelona
Founded: November 29 1899
Home ground: Camp Nou (capacity – 99,354)
President: Joan Laporta
Head coach: Ronald Koeman (since August 19 2020)
Coaching staff: Alfred Schreuder, Henrik Larsson, Jose Ramon de la Fuente
All-time top goalscorers (in all competitions): Lionel Messi (672 goals), Cesar Rodriguez (232), Luis Suarez (198), Laslo Kubala (194), Josep Samitier (184)
Most appearances (in all competitions): Lionel Messi (778), Xavi (767), Andres Iniesta (674), Sergio Busquets (639), Carles Puyol (593)
Honours: La Liga – 26 titles, Copa del Rey – 31, Spanish Super Cup – 13, UEFA Champions League/Cup – 5, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup – 4, UEFA Super Cup – 5, FIFA Club World Cup – 3
2021/2022 La Liga current position: 7th (8 matches, 15 points)
2020/2021 season
The decisive part of the last season was a failure for Barcelona and the team lost the league title. They gained only 5 points in 4 final matches.
Anyway, the thirds place let Barca qualify for the Champions League group stage. Barcelona had the best La Liga attack (85 goals scored), but their defense was worse than Atletico, Real Madrid and Sevilla had.
Still Ronald Koeman’s men managed to win the national Cup. In the decisive match they defeated Athletic Bilbao (4:0). This was the 31st trophy of the kind in their history.
As for the Champions League, Barca featured in the same group as Dynamo. They won it, but then were outplayed by PSG (1:4 at home, 1:1 away).
Summer transfers
For financial reasons, one of the greatest players of all time, Lionel Messi, left the club. So did the forward Antoine Griezmann.
Summer transfer campaign summary
In: Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero, Eric Garcia, Luuk de Jong, Yusuf Demir.
Out: Lionel Messi, Junior Firpo, Antoine Griezmann, Jean-Clair Todibo, Carles Alena, Juan Miranda, Matheus Fernandes, Monchu, Miralem Pjanic, Francisco Trincao.
2021/2022 season start
Barcelona have won only 4 out of 8 domestic league matches this season so far. Ronald Koeman’s men are 7th in the La Liga table, but lack only 2 points behind group of leaders. Memphis Depay has already scored 4 goals (2 assists). Ansu Fati, Sergi Roberto and Martin Braithwaite have scored 2 each.
In the Champions League, Barca suffered two 0:3 defeats – against Bayern Munich and Benfica.
Photo – FC Barcelona
