Ghana international Mohammed Salisu is gearing up for a challenging Champions League debut as AS Monaco host Spanish giants Barcelona on Thursday night at Stade Louis II. The 25-year-old defender will face one of Europe’s most formidable attacks as Barcelona look to carry their impressive La Liga form into the revamped UEFA Champions League.
Salisu comes into the game fully fit after a season disrupted by injuries and has been pivotal in Monaco’s qualification for the competition. Anchoring the defence, he aims to make a strong impression in Europe’s elite club tournament.
Reflecting on the upcoming fixture, Salisu said, “Yeah, I think this will be my debut in the Champions League and it’s an important game for the team and for me as well so we need to focus on the game.” He also cited Monaco’s preseason Gamper Trophy win over Barcelona as a confidence boost. “Yeah it wasn’t an easy game but we won and you know how they play and you know how they have good players up front, dangerous so we just need to go with everything we have like we played last time,” he added.
Monaco will be looking to replicate that performance and end Barcelona’s five-game winning streak under Hansi Flick, while Salisu hopes to announce himself on Europe’s biggest stage. The match is set to kick off at 19:00 GMT.
