Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News
Barcelona have secured direct qualification for the Champions League spherical of 16, bypassing the necessity to compete within the play-offs for groups positioned between ninth and twenty-fourth.
Their place within the subsequent stage was confirmed final night time, and following their 2-2 draw with Atalanta, they’re now formally set to advance as runners-up of their group.
Which staff will Barcelona face?
By ending second, Barcelona will face a staff drawn from the golf equipment that completed between fifteenth and 18th.
This implies their potential opponents are Monaco, Brest, Benfica, and PSG, three of which they’ve already performed towards within the group stage. The draw to find out the matchups for these 4 groups will happen subsequent Friday.
Barcelona completed second in UCL group stage. (Picture by David Ramos/Getty Pictures)
These 4 groups will compete in two knockout ties, with the primary legs scheduled for 11 and 12 February and the return legs on 18 and 19 February.
One of many winners will meet Barcelona within the spherical of 16, whereas the opposite will face Liverpool. The attract Nyon will decide who performs whom.
When will Barcelona play?
Barcelona will start the primary leg of their tie away from house, with the second leg being held on the Camp Nou.
With their qualification confirmed, Barcelona will take pleasure in a break in the course of the play-off matches scheduled for February. Their spherical of 16 fixtures will happen on 4 or 5 March for the primary leg, and the return leg will likely be performed on 11 or 12 March.
If all goes in line with plan, Barcelona might discover themselves going through both Actual Madrid or Atletico Madrid within the semi-finals of the competitors, including extra pleasure to what’s shaping as much as be an exhilarating knockout stage.
