The power is rising successful Catalonia up of Barcelona’s last Champions League outing of nan convention shape connected Wednesday, Jan. 28.
Barcelona waltzed to 2nd spot during past season’s convention shape but person recovered life much challenging this term, and are still uncertain of automatic progression to nan past 16 via a top-eight decorativeness heading into their finale.
Hansi Flick and his players will beryllium hopeless to bypass nan knockout playoff information but inconsistent displays connected nan continent mean they must conflict for that peculiar privilege during their eighth excursion.
Here’s what Barça must execute to unafraid safe transition consecutive to nan Champions League information of 16.
How Can Barcelona Qualify for nan Champions League Last 16?
Barcelona person a favorable last fixture. | Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhotoGetty Images
Barcelona participate their last convention shape fixture extracurricular of nan apical 8 but their 4–2 triumph complete Slavia Prague has lifted them to ninth successful nan standings. They’re presently level connected 13 points pinch 7 different sides heading into their favorable upcoming conflict pinch FC Copenhagen astatine Camp Nou.
To guarantee they decorativeness successful nan apical eight, triumph is basal against their Danish visitors. Three much points would springiness them an fantabulous chance of clinching their last-16 berth, particularly considering that 2 of nan teams supra them, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United, look disconnected against 1 different connected nan last matchday.
However, pinch Chelsea, Sporting CP, Manchester City, Atlético Madrid and Atalanta besides connected nan aforesaid number of points arsenic Barça, extremity quality will beryllium nan decisive facet if teams cannot beryllium separated travel nan convention phase’s conclusion. La Blaugrana are presently connected +5 but person a weaker extremity quality than PSG, Newcastle and Chelsea, arsenic good arsenic being level pinch Sporting.
Not only will Flick’s men beryllium seeking triumph against Copenhagen, they will beryllium looking for a patient triumph to boost their chances of making nan apical eight.
A tie would realistically extremity Barça’s automatic past 16 hopes arsenic they would beryllium relying connected those level connected points pinch them besides dropping points, arsenic good arsenic chasers Inter, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. An improbable conclusion would beryllium fatal.
Of their top-eight rivals besides connected 13 points, Chelsea person nan toughest remaining fixture distant astatine reigning Serie A champions Napoli. Sporting’s travel to Athletic Club will not beryllium easy, while a sojourn from Galatasaray could airs issues for Man City. Atléti big Bodø/Glimt and Atalanta recreation to Union Saint-Gilloise, while, arsenic mentioned, PSG invited Newcastle to France.
Champions League Table Ahead of Matchday 8
1. | Arsenal | 21 | +18 |
2. | Bayern Munich | 18 | +13 |
3. | Real Madrid | 15 | +11 |
4. | Liverpool | 15 | +6 |
5. | Tottenham Hotspur | 14 | +8 |
6. | Paris Saint-Germain | 13 | +10 |
7. | Newcastle United | 13 | +10 |
8. | Chelsea | 13 | +6 |
9. | Barcelona | 13 | +5 |
10. | Sporting CP | 13 | +5 |
11. | Manchester City | 13 | +4 |
12. | Atlético Madrid | 13 | +3 |
13. | Atalanta | 13 | +1 |
14. | Inter Milan | 12 | +6 |
15. | Juventus | 12 | +4 |
16. | Borussia Dortmund | 11 | +4 |
17. | Galatasaray | 10 | |
18. | Qarabağ | 10 | -2 |
19. | Marseille | 9 | |
20. | Bayer Leverkusen | 9 | -4 |
21. | Monaco | 9 | -6 |
22. | PSV Eindhoven | 8 | +1 |
23. | Athletic Club | 8 | -4 |
24. | Olympiacos | 8 | -5 |
25. | Napoli | 8 | -5 |
26. | Copenhagen | 8 | -6 |
27. | Club Brugge | 7 | -5 |
28. | Bodø/Glimt | 6 | -2 |
29. | Benfica | 6 | -4 |
30. | Pafos | 6 | -6 |
31. | Union Saint-Gilloise | 6 | -10 |
32. | Ajax | 6 | -12 |
33. | Eintracht Frankfurt | 4 | -9 |
34. | Slavia Prague | 3 | -11 |
35. | Villarreal | 1 | -10 |
36. | Kairat Almaty | 1 | -14 |
How Can Barcelona Qualify for nan Knockout Phase?
Fortunately, Flick knows Barça are astatine slightest guaranteed their spot successful nan knockout phase. They person qualified for nan playoff information pursuing their triumph complete Slavia Prague but will beryllium hopeless to debar 2 much unwanted fixtures.
Failing to make nan past 8 is surely not nan extremity of nan world. Last season’s European champions PSG only vanished 15th during nan convention phase, while quarterfinalists Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid all grounded to automatically scope nan information of 16.
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