Barcelona will start the brand new UEFA Champions League marketing campaign with one overriding ambition: ending an 11-year look ahead to European soccer’s greatest prize.
The competitors has remained frustratingly out of attain for the Catalan giants, regardless of indicators in latest seasons that they’re shifting nearer to Europe’s elite once more.
Now, Hansi Flick’s facet head into a brand new marketing campaign with a brand new squad and the expectation of mounting one other critical problem.
Barcelona have strengthened their ranks with the arrivals of Rodri, Joao Cancelo, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi, including high quality and depth throughout a number of areas of the pitch.
On the similar time, the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres mark the top of an essential chapter in assault.
With the Champions League draw approaching, Barcelona have already got a clearer image of the groups they may meet through the league part.
Barcelona may face Europe’s greatest names from Pot 1
The Champions League’s league-phase format will as soon as once more see all 36 taking part groups play eight matches, dealing with two opponents from every of the 4 pots — one at dwelling and one away.
Barcelona could possibly be handed some heavyweight fixtures instantly.
Notably, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester Metropolis, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Inter and Arsenal are all potential opponents from Pot 1.
Any draw involving a type of golf equipment would supply an early indication of the place Barcelona stand amongst Europe’s strongest groups.
In the meantime, the foundations stop Barcelona from dealing with Atletico Madrid, Actual Madrid, Actual Betis or Villarreal, whereas they’ll meet a most of two groups from the identical nation.
A demanding combine awaits throughout the remaining pots
There is no such thing as a scarcity of harmful opposition elsewhere within the draw.
From Pot 2, Barcelona may come up towards Borussia Dortmund, Roma, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Porto, PSV, Manchester United or Membership Brugge.
Pot 3 consists of Lille, RB Leipzig, Feyenoord, Napoli, Galatasaray, Shakhtar Donetsk, Fenerbahçe and Bodo/Glimt.
The potential Pot 4 opponents are Stuttgart, Slavia Prague, Lens, Como, Sabah, LASK Linz, Viking, Slovan Bratislava and AEK Athens.
On paper, a few of these fixtures might seem extra manageable, however the brand new format leaves little room for complacency.
Away journeys throughout Europe, mixed with the standard unfold all through the competitors, imply Barcelona will want consistency from the opening matchday.
Barcelona’s squad has been constructed with Europe in thoughts
Barcelona’s switch enterprise means that this can be a season by which home success alone might not fulfill the membership’s ambitions.
Rodri brings expertise and management in midfield, whereas Cancelo provides confirmed versatility on the again.
The additions of Gordon and Adeyemi, in the meantime, give Flick totally different choices in assault following the exits of Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
The larger query is whether or not the new-look squad can ship when the Champions League reaches its decisive phases.
Barcelona have already proven in latest campaigns that they’ll compete with the very best.
Now, the following step is popping that progress right into a sustained run able to carrying all of them the best way to the ultimate.
