Barcelona’s chances of direct qualification to the Champions League Round of 16 after defeat to Chelsea

Barcelona’s ambition this season is to win the UEFA Champions League — that is the ultimate objective. However, at the moment, the mission has become more complicated. In fact, the defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has seriously jeopardized their chances of direct qualification to the next round.

Barcelona must win their remaining three league-phase matches if they want to qualify directly for the Round of 16.

Estimates indicate that 16 points are needed to finish among the top eight teams in the league standings of Europe’s biggest competition — the number required by teams last season to secure direct qualification to the Round of 16.

This season, all indicators suggest that the same total (16 points), or something very close to it, will be necessary to avoid having to go through the playoff round.

Hansi Flick currently has seven points after five matchdays, with two wins, one draw, and two defeats. The Catalans have beaten Newcastle and Olympiacos, drawn with Club Brugge, and lost to Paris Saint-Germain — as well as Tuesday night’s defeat to Chelsea in London.

Therefore, to reach the crucial 16 points, they must take all nine remaining points from the final three games.

Barcelona will host Eintracht Frankfurt at Spotify Camp Nou on December 9th, travel to Prague to face Slavia on January 21st, and close the league phase against Copenhagen at Camp Nou on January 28th.

Hansi Flick noted on Monday, ahead of the Chelsea match, that Paris Saint-Germain won the Champions League without finishing in the top eight of the league phase, which forced them to play a playoff against Liverpool.

Source: Marca