Barcelona Aiming for Statement Victory Over Czech Republic’s Viktoria Plzeň in UEFA Champions League

• FC Barcelona were surprisingly dumped out of the UEFA Champions League in the group stages last season
• Viktoria Plzeň have competed in three Champions League tournaments but have never made it out of the group stages
• Viktoria Plzeň and FC Barcelona are in the group of death alongside Inter Milan and Bayern Munich

Barcelona and Viktoria Plzeň will both be hoping for better fortunes in the UEFA Champions League this season.

The Catalan giants failed to make it out of the group stages last season, while the Czech champions have never finished higher than third place in the group phase of the competition.

Both sides have now been drawn in the group of death alongside Inter Milan and Bayern Munich and will meet at the Camp Nou this evening for their opening fixture.

What do the coaches have to say?

Viktoria Plzeň stunned after being drawn against Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in Champions League

Football

Barcelona:

Xavi isn’t expecting any easy games in the Champions League, but is confident of victory, Barca Universal reported.

“We play against a strong team. This is the UCL, and we want to start in the best way possible. We got a tough group, but we’re excited,” he said.

Viktoria Plzeň:

Plzeň’s assistant coach Pavel Horváth was more cryptic with his thoughts, just saying ‘We Believe’ and ‘We’re Ready,’ USAToday reported.

Team News:

Probable Lineups

Injury News:

Barcelona:

The home side have no major injury concerns heading into the game but could give some of their players a rest for the opening game. New signings Marcos Alonso and Hector Bellerin were officially unveiled by the club but will not feature in today's game.

Viktoria Plzeň:

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Petr Pejsa is the only player expected to miss out due to a serious knee injury.

Ousmane Dembélé shares hilarious words Robert Lewandowski told him after their first meeting at Barcelona

Ousmane Dembélé is loving playing alongside Robert Lewandowski at FC Barcelona.

The French attacker recently opened up on their relationship and Lewandowski’s reaction when they first met. As reported by Barca Blaugranes, Dembélé noted the hilarious first words the Polish striker said to him.

Dembélé added that he already knew Lewandowski from Bayern Munich. Dembélé himself played in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.