Barcelona finally return to the UCL after what is possibly the longest hiatus in recent years. The Blaugranas failed to get out of their group last season and were forced to play Europa League.
Their first European game of the season sees them pitted against Viktoria Plzen. The game is scheduled to take place at Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday and one can expect some real firecrackers on the night.
The Catalans are unbeaten this season, winning three of their four games so far. The only time they dropped points was against Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 1 of La Liga.
Barcelona are the favourites heading into the midweek clash, having scored 11 goals in their last three games. However, the Champions League is no stranger to upsets, and Xavi must be wary of the threat on the horizon.
Barca Universal brings you three talking points ahead of the UCL campaign opener.
1. Easiest fixture in the group of deal
Must-win fixtures are usually a feature of the tail end of the season. As teams progress deeper and deeper into a competition, the stakes rise exponentially.
Barcelona are in a bizarre situation in that respect. The Catalans are set to take part in their first UCL game of the season tomorrow, and it already appears as if it is a must-win game.
In the draw conducted last month, the Blaugranas were drawn into the group of death. In Group C, one finds the likes of Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Barcelona fighting for a top two spot to qualify for the knockouts. The fourth team, and relatively the weakest link in the group, is Viktoria Plzen.
Bayern Munich and Inter Milan are amongst the best sides in Europe and will not make things easy for Xavi’s side. That is what makes the two games against Viktoria pivotal.
Barcelona cannot afford to drop any of the six points against the Czech team, for a small slip-up could prove decisive in the group standings. Needless to say, the team which drops points against Viktoria is automatically at a disadvantage and has a high chance of finishing third.
2. An opportunity to test the bench
The quality of Barcelona’s bench players is something breathtaking. The likes of Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Memphis Depay, Frenkie de Jong, Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen are starting calibre players for any top European side.
The options Xavi has on the bench are not in any way inferior to the starting XI. In such a situation, there is not much risk in rotating the squad for there will not be a significant drop in quality.
Against Viktoria, the manager could look to give Ferran Torres a start ahead of Raphinha in the attack. Ansu Fati, too, is an option to deploy on the wing, but the final decision will come down to fitness considerations.
In midfield, both Frenkie de Jong and Franck Kessie are more than worthy of a start. Given the relatively easy opposition, one could expect Pedri and Gavi to be rested for the aforementioned duo.
In defence, Andreas Christensen could start in place of Eric Garcia. He would be alongside Ronald Araujo in central defence, with Jules Kounde playing at right-back.
3. The UCL dream
Barcelona’s relationship with the UEFA Champions League has not been something to cherish in recent years. Every year, the Blaugranas hope to compete with Europe’s best sides only to get ripped apart on the world’s biggest stage.
Over time, the horrifying exits and countless humiliations became a barrier for the team. It caused a psychological blow that converted to a lack of belief.
The heartbreak in Rome, annihilation at Anfield and embarrassment in Lisbon were not easy to come back from. The remedy required, it seems, was a complete overhaul of the team.
If one were to compare the side that played at Anfield to the team Xavi deployed last week, the only common links would be Sergio Busquets and Marc Andre ter Stegen. Barcelona are revamped, replenished and finally capable of starting afresh in a competition that has eluded them too long.
The team this year looks fierce on all fronts. Every position is covered by a world-class player with an equally competent backup and the chemistry between players seems to be on a constant rise.
Barcelona’s administration put the club’s future at stake to activate economic levers in the summer. At this point, winning it all is not an option but a goal that must be achieved at any cost to ease the financial burden on the club. Will this finally be the year the UCL returns to Catalonia?