Barcelona's Champions League Survival: How to Avoid the Playoff

Few imagined that FC Barcelona would arrive in Prague to play one of the most decisive matches of the season. And it won’t be the last: the finale against FC Copenhagen will also be crucial. Still, Wednesday’s clash with Slavia Prague could define the course of the entire campaign. The picture is clear and demanding: Barça must win both remaining matches to keep real hopes of finishing among the top eight. They currently sit on 10 points, with a minimum target of 16. Opta’s projections are not encouraging, placing the Blaugrana ninth— a position that would force them into the playoff. The big boost for Flick is the return of Raphinha, who missed the match against Real Sociedad with a thigh knock. The Brazilian is expected to start alongside Robert Lewandowski. Marcus Rashford and Roony Bardghji are also in contention. Despite the 2–1 defeat at Anoeta, Barça showed positive signs and now look to make amends in Europe, where there is no room for mistakes. The team traveled to the Czech capital on Tuesday, where temperatures around -4°C are expected at kickoff. Even so, they won’t be alone: 869 Barça supporters will be in attendance at the Eden Arena. Slavia Prague cling to near-miraculous qualification hopes. They haven’t won a single match in this Champions League campaign and are on a 17-game winless streak in the competition. They’ve scored just two goals, both by defender Youssouoja Mbodji, making them the tournament’s lowest scorers. Even so, Jindřich Trpišovský’s side leads the Czech league convincingly and is known for its intensity, direct play, and quick transitions—especially down the right flank, where Tomáš Holeš and David Douděra are doubts.