Mayra Madrigal
Barcelona vs Viktoria Plzen will face each other in a tough clash at the start of the Champions League 2022/23 group stage. These two teams belong to Group C, a group that is far from simple as it includes Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, so the competition will be fierce on every matchday.
It is considered a deadly group, and the Viktoria Plzen appears as the weakest of the four, so this clash could be ideal for Barcelona to win and gain confidence for the following matches in the group.
The Culé team will try to improve their performance in the Champions League, since in the previous edition it failed to get out of the group stage. Viktoria Plzen, meanwhile, returns to the group stage of European competition after missing the 2021-22 season.
Barcelona vs Viktoria Plzen promises to be one of the most vibrant duels of this first date of the group stage, and at JefeBet we have the preview of the two teams, as well as the prediction.
Predictions, Odds, and Betting Preview for the Barcelona vs Viktoria Plzen Champions League Matchday 1 Game on September 7, 2022
- Where: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain
- When: Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 3:00 PM ET
- Moneyline: Barcelona (-1200) / Tie (+1150) / Viktoria Plzen (+3000)
- Asian Handicap: Barcelona (AH -2.5,-3.0, -109) / Viktoria Plzen (AH +2.5,+3.0 -102)
- Over/Under (2.5): Over (-350), Under (+240).
- Both teams score: Yes (+150) / No (-225).
Barcelona Preview
Barcelona has gone into the 2022-23 La Liga season with a big turnaround and will likely look to do the same in the Champions League. Between the highs and lows of the transfer market, it seems to have benefited from the results. They remain unbeaten in the domestic competition with three wins and a draw, proving that the arrival of Xavi Hernández to the bench has done some good to the team.
The last international match in official European competitions was against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League, where the team lost by an aggregate score of 3-4 in the quarterfinals. In this game, it will have to show superiority and take advantage of their home advantage to get the three points.
Absences: No report.
Possible starting eleven: Marc Ter Stegen; Jules Koundé, Ronald Araújo, Eric García, Alex Balde; Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Pedri; Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembélé.
Viktoria Plzen Preview
Viktoria Plzen is about to start its ninth Champions League participation after having been part of past editions: 2011-12, 2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2020-21. It cut short a streak of five consecutive participations by failing to qualify for the 2021-22. This will be the fifth time it has participated in a group stage and of the teams with which it shares the group, Bayern Munich and Barcelona already know it.
The Czech Republic squad arrives to this match quite inspired, as they have not lost any official matches so far this calendar year in all competitions. In addition, the team is on a streak of four consecutive victories in all competitions.
Absences: No report.
Possible starting eleven: Jindrich Stanek; Ludek Pernica, Lukas Hejda, Libor Holik, Milan Havel; Ales Cermak, Lukas Kalvach, Jan Sykora; Jhon Mosquera, Fortune Bassey, Adam Vlkanova.
JefeBet Prediction
It is a renewed Barcelona that is generating a lot of offensive play with the arrival of Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, but has also shown a defensive order, something that had been lacking in recent times. The balance achieved in all lines makes the Culé team the favorite for this clash.
Pick: FC Barcelona wins.
