CHAMPIONS: Chelsea's Main Weapons Against Barça

FC Barcelona visits Chelsea this Tuesday, the current club world champion. Enzo Maresca's team has invested billions of euros since the arrival of American businessman Todd Boehly as president and boasts one of the most expensive and complete squads in the world.

Despite the absence of Cole Palmer, their main star, Enzo Maresca's team boasts a consolidated idea and formation: a 4-2-3-1 similar to Barça's, although with less possession and build-up, betting more on verticality thanks to the speed of their main weapon: offensive variations

Joao Pedro, Estevao, Gittens, Pedro Neto... A team with youth and explosiveness in attack

Joao Pedro has established himself as the team's '9' since his arrival in the summer, amidst the Club World Cup. The Brazilian has already scored 7 goals and provided 3 assists in 18 games and, after Palmer's physical problems, has taken over the leadership of the 'blue' attack.

In the summer, Jamie Gittens and Estevao also arrived, the latter having been courted by Barça months prior. The 18-year-old winger has already scored a couple of times in his first 44 Champions League appearances, while the former Dortmund striker has had a rather discreet start to the season, with no goals in 10 games.

Pedro Neto, for his part, has scored 4 goals in the Premier League. The Portuguese player is a constant threat as a left winger, a position where former United player Alejandro Garnacho also now features. So far this season, Chelsea has scored 38 goals in 18 matches, averaging 2.11 per game.

Chelsea Will Bet on Their Star Midfield Against Barça

In the midfield, the London club also boasts two players of great quality and experience: **Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández**. The club invested 116 and 121 million in their signings, and the two South American midfielders have established themselves in Maresca's system, with the Argentine playing as an attacking midfielder.

Against Barça, the Italian coach has **the experienced Reece James and the Brazilian Andrey Santos** as alternatives to accompany Caicedo in the defensive double pivot. Roméo Lavia and Dário Essugo, the other options for this position, are out due to injury

Cucurella and Guiu, two Barça youth players on the opposing side

Marc Guiu, in a match with Chelsea

Two other 'threats' for Hansi Flick's team at Stamford Bridge are old acquaintances of the club. Marc Cucurella, a youth academy product who left the club in 2020 after several loans to Eibar and Getafe, has established himself as one of the best left-backs in English football, as well as an undisputed starter for the Spanish national team.

On Tuesday, the player from Alella will have the tough mission of marking Lamine Yamal, whom he knows well. "He is a very special player. He has to experience things because he is very young. In the end, he is at a great level, he is a great player. It will be a tough match," he said about the Barça number 10 in the pre-match press conference.

Also on the 'blue' bench will be Marc Guiu. The forward left in 2024 for 6 million euros and, although he has had a very complicated first year, he has managed to earn a place after the departure of Nico Jackson and the muscular problems of Liam Delap.

The one from Granollers, in fact, was loaned to Sunderland in August, but the club brought him back just before the summer transfer window closed. For now, he has scored 7 goals in 22 games with Chelsea and, on Tuesday, he hopes to get minutes in the second half

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