The UEFA Champions League does not harbour the best of memories for FC Barcelona in recent years. After repeated knockout humiliations, the Blaugrana Institute reached a new low when they failed to make the Round of 16 for two consecutive seasons in Europe.
Their overall performance has been better this season and a place in the knockout stages has been secured. Later tonight, the team take on Royal Antwerp on the final match day of the group phase, albeit away from home under trying circumstances.
Marc van Bommel’s side head into the clash unbeaten in their last three outings. Further, they have lost just two of their last nine games across all competitions and are clearly the more in-form team ahead of the clash.
Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Royal Antwerp vs Barcelona.
A spot of bother
If Barcelona’s clashes against Porto and Atletico Madrid gave fans hope, the team’s last outing killed the hype. The 2-4 hammering against Girona was as bad as the scoreline suggests and undoubtedly did not leave a positive aftertaste in the dressing room.
The Catalans struggled across the field in the recent derby, making a mess out of the golden chance they had at their doorstep.
For starters, Xavi’s men were horrendous in defence. Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Ronald Araujo all share blame for the same, for they were frequently caught out of position and provided Girona inroads.
The performance in the final third was not much better. Robert Lewandowski was once again disappointing apart from his opening goal while Raphinha and Joao Felix appeared to be shadows of their former selves. All in all, Barcelona were woeful in the face of goal.
To suffer such a serious blow while just recuperating from a deep trench is indeed hard on the men in garnet and blue. The objective tonight will thus be to get back on their feet and swing the momentum to their side once more.
Balde’s chance to shine
Alejandro Balde’s burst to prominence last season took the world by surprise. The youngster from La Masia quickly ascended the manager’s pecking order and displaced even the great Jordi Alba as the team’s first-choice left-back.
Heading into the 2023-24 campaign, the academy starlet was the team’s primary player in his position. However, he has found serious competition in recent matchdays after the arrival of Joao Cancelo on the horizon.
The Portuguese star, initially signed as a right-back, played on the left of defence in Barcelona’s recent outings. He played out of his niche in all three of the Catalans’ virtual finals, and it is not difficult to see why Balde might not be happy with the development.
The team’s clash against Royal Antwerp, thus, provides him with the right stage to re-audition for his role. After all, Xavi will look to switch things up today and reinstating Balde to the defensive line will be among the top ideas on his agenda.
All eyes will thus be on the 20-year-old Spanish ace and how he plays with the pressure on his shoulders. After all, it is the first time he is facing such a situation in his senior career.
Closing on a high
For the first time in three years, Barcelona have successfully qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League. The road was not without hiccups, but all that matters to Joan Laporta and Co. is the eventual result.
Of the five match-days played so far, the Catalans have won four games and lost on one occasion. Their only defeat of the campaign came against Shakhtar Donetsk on match day 4 of the competition.
Having secured their place in the next round, Barcelona will be eager to wind up the group stages of the competition with a resounding win. Not only would such a result aid with the team’s confidence but also serve as a warning to other European clubs that Barça are back in the Round of 16.
The last time Xavi’s men met Royal Antwerp, they were at the peak of their powers and put five goals past the Belgian outfit. The circumstances this time are starkly different, but the manager will hope for a similar result on the night.
