Five players that can bring Barcelona back to Champions League level this season | OneFootball

Having conquered the pre-season tour in the United States, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona are ever so close to beginning their official season.

The Joan Gamper Trophy scheduled for Monday will serve as the official presentation of the squad to fans across the globe and the team begin their adventure in La Liga less than a week later.

Having gone trophyless last season, the pressure is on the Blaugrana to perform better in 2024-25. The ultimate target, needless to say, is the UEFA Champions League.

With a new manager and altered dynamics, there is a real sense that Barcelona can do well in Europe this season. It will, however, come down to players stepping up and making the difference in moments of adversity.

Barça Universal brings you five players who can make a difference for the Catalans in the UEFA Champions League this season.

Pedri Gonzalez

Barcelona’s midfield magician Pedri Gonzalez has been viewed as the team’s protagonist for several years now.

Signed back in 2019 for a bargain fee, the youngster lights up the park whenever called on and adds an element of verticality to Barcelona’s play.

Back-to-back injuries, however, have marred his career in recent years as the youngster has struggled to find continuity. While he still dictates the play when available and is one of the best players on the field, the Catalans require him to be available more regularly.

Pedri will be key in Flick’s setup next season(Photo by OSCAR DEL POZO/AFP via Getty Images)

Hansi Flick’s arrival and the renewed emphasis on physical fitness is seen as the remedy and the club will hope that Pedri can stay fit throughout the upcoming season. After all, he would be a monstrous presence in the attacking midfield for the Blaugrana.

Dani Olmo

Barcelona’s latest signing Dani Olmo, in many ways, could be the wildcard the club needed.

While a lot has been said about the Azulgrana’s saturation in the attacking midfield, Olmo offers great off-the-ball movement and is a fox in the box on need. His instinct in front of goal is special, to say the least.

It remains to be seen where Flick places the new arrival on his lineup, but initial signs point to the left wing being his niche.

In any case, the Euro 2024 top scorer is a clutch player and the manager will hope he comes good in the UEFA Champions League.

Alejandro Balde

One of the strongest takeaways from Hansi Flick’s sextuple-winning Bayern Munich team was the influence of the team’s left-back Alphonso Davies.

The young Canadian star transformed into a massive threat in the final third under the German manager’s command, firmly establishing himself as one of the best in the business and pillars of the team.

There is, thus, great anticipation over the progress of Alejandro Balde who possesses a largely similar profile.

If the youngster sees a similar transformation, he could well be one of Barcelona’s X factors in the Champions League.

Lamine Yamal

Lamine Yamal is quite clearly the biggest sensation and the talk of the town in Catalonia at the moment.

The best young player of Euro 2024 has enjoyed a special rise to fame over the past year and will start the new campaign as Barcelona’s default right winger.

All eyes are on Yamal heading into the new season (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Despite being just 16 years old last season, Yamal was the Catalans’ single biggest difference-maker in the final third. Expect no less as he begins his second season as a first-team mainstay, this time with a high standard set in stone.

While indeed Flick will look to utilise the youngster’s services judiciously and prioritise his fitness, it is almost clear that Yamal will play the team’s big games of the campaign.

The UEFA Champions League, needless to say, tops that list.

Marc Andre Ter Stegen

It is no coincidence that the last time Barcelona won La Liga, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen was one of the team’s best players.

The goalkeeper is often the most neglected player of the playing XI, but the role they play in keeping their team in the game through thick and thin is second to none.

If Barcelona are to conquer championships this season, Ter Stegen will thus be more important than ever.

His quality on the ball has never been in question but he has been questionable with his shot-stopping ability at times in recent years.

A level anywhere close to his Zamora-winning season, needless to say, will make Barcelona favourites to progress deep in Europe.