FC Barcelona returns to action this Tuesday in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26. For the second matchday in a row, the team managed by Hansi Flick will be at home in Montjuïc, this time against Olympiacos (16:15 CEST) led by an old acquaintance: José Luis Mendilibar. The Basque coach is facing his third season in Greece with a team that is coming off a league title.

In the Champions League, however, the team from Piraeus has not started well, adding just 1 point out of a possible 6. Barça, on the other hand, debuted with a victory in Newcastle (1-2), but fell by the same score in the previous match at home against Paris Saint-Germain.

Therefore, the Catalan team is obligated to win on Tuesday to move closer again to the spots that directly qualify for the round of sixteen. With the new format, only the top eight in the overall standings advance directly to the round of the best 16. Teams ranked from 9th to 24th place have to play an extra playoff round in February.

  • 📺 Where and when to watch the match: the channels that broadcast the Barça-Olympiacos SEE

Barça Seeks to Recover Its Best Form in Europe

After the defeat against PSG, the feelings for Barça have not been the best. The defeat in Seville (4-1) exposed the defensive fragility of a team that has suffered from injuries (accumulating 7 casualties) and that, after the break, suffered again to defeat a Girona team at the bottom of LaLiga (2-1).

Ronald Araujo's goal in the 90+3' prevented another setback that would have left the Azulgrana team on the verge of their first crisis in 2025. However, the team hopes to leave behind the slump of recent weeks with a solid performance against Olympiacos, just before the first Clásico of the 25/26 season against Real Madrid.

The Greeks, meanwhile, also need to add at least one point in their visit to Catalunya to not detach themselves from the 'play-off' zone. In their league, Olympiacos has 5 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss at the start of the season, but Mendilivar's team also added a pair of consecutive defeats before the break (against Arsenal and PAOK).

Flick will bet on a more recognizable XI against Olympiacos

Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford before the Barça-PSG match

Despite the losses, Hansi Flick will be able to field a more recognizable team compared to the unprecedented attacking trident against Girona, with Toni Fernández as the area reference and Pedri as an attacking midfielder. Fermín López should accompany Marcus Rashford and Lamine Yamal in attack, perhaps with Roony Bardghji playing as a 'false 9'.

Pedri, in that case, would return to his usual position alongside Frenkie de Jong in the center of the field. In the back, Szczesny remains in goal due to the absence of Joan García. Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde will be the full-backs, while Araujo should also return to the XI, accompanying Eric García in the center.

In the previous Champions League match against PSG, Pau Cubarsí started, but had a rather poor game. Gerard Martín took the place of Balde, who was just returning from injury. Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres also started, both ruled out due to injury this Tuesday.

  • ℹ️ Lineups: the possible starting XIs for FC Barcelona and Olympiacos: SEE

Barça Maintains 7 Injury Absences for Champions League Matchday 3

The 'Shark' will be out as a precaution after his discomfort in his left thigh persisted, while the player from Terrassa remains sidelined due to an injury in his left soleus. The same is true for Raphinha, who has still not been able to return to training after more than three weeks on the sidelines due to a right thigh injury. The goal is to have the '7' and the '11' available on Sunday against Real Madrid.

Olmo, on the other hand, would be out until early November. Joan García and Robert Lewandowski would be sidelined for another month. The goalkeeper, due to his knee operation, while the Pole returned from the last break with a tear in his left biceps femoris.

Gavi and Ter Stegen, however, are long-term absentees. Thus, Barça maintains seven players in its infirmary, just like against Girona. Hence, the coaching staff prefers to redouble its care with the management of minutes of a squad that already exceeds a dozen muscular problems in the first two months of the season.

Mendilibar's Olympiacos Aiming to Spring a Surprise at Montjuïc

Olympiacos, meanwhile, will also be without Rodinei and Gabriel Strefazza, both injured. Barring any surprises, José Luis Mendilibar will repeat the XI from the previous Champions League matchday as a visitor against Arsenal (2-0), as he has most of his starters available.

The Basque coach will keep Tzolakis in goal, as well as his full-backs, Costinha and Ortega. Retsos and Pirola should be the center-backs, with Hezze and former Athletic player Dani García in the double defensive pivot. Chiquinho would be the team's attacking midfielder, while Gelson Martins and Podence should continue as wingers.

The Greeks' goal scorer and area reference is the Moroccan Ayoub El Kaabi, who comes from scoring a double last weekend and has 5 goals in 10 games. Other experienced names, such as Mehdi Taremi and Roman Yaremchuk should also have minutes in the second half in Montjuïc.

Since 2007, Mendilivar has faced Barcelona 25 times with six different clubs in LaLiga. The Basque manager has only managed to salvage 3 draws and 1 victory, with a balance of 79 goals against and only 14 in favor. Against Olympiacos, the Blaugrana also boast a favorable record, with one victory (3-1) and one draw (0-0) in the group stage of the 17/18 season.