Spanish juggernaut Barcelona won't have an easy out in the Champions League Round of 16 despite facing a seemingly struggling side.
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Spanish juggernaut Barcelona won't have an easy out in the Champions League Round of 16 despite facing a seemingly struggling side.
Following Friday’s UEFA Champions League draw, Spanish juggernaut Barcelona could have an easy out of the Round of 16.
But that could be nothing more than a mirage for Hansi Flick’s side. Newcastle isn’t exactly a pushover and could give Barcelona a run for its money.
At the moment, Newcastle is mired in 11th place in the Premier League. The northern side has lost four of its last five Premier League matches. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that Newcastle could make things tough for Barcelona in this league of the Champions League.
How so?
Barcelona has surrendered 14 goals in eight Champions League matches, as an article in The Athletic noted. That situation means that Barcelona’s defense isn’t as tight as it could be. If anything, that’s something that Newcastle could exploit.
Specifically, Barcelona’s high line has been vulnerable to fakes from attackers. Plus, teams switching play has led to scoring chances.
Of course, the odds of Newcastle pulling off an upset are slim. But if there’s any team at risk for an upset, it’s Barcelona.
It will be interesting to see what lineup Flick dresses for their first leg on March 10. A solid performance from the Spanish side could pretty much seal their ticket to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Otherwise, the second leg could be needlessly tense.
Champions League Path Not Exactly Easy for Barcelona
In the other bracket, Spanish side Atleti and English side Tottenham will clash in their respective Champions League matches. That matchup raises an interesting prospect.
For Barcelona, the preferred path would be to face Tottenham. The side is 16th in the Premier League and at risk of descending into relegation territory. At the moment, Igor Tudor’s squad is safe, but losing three of its last five Premier League matches won’t help.
As for Atleti, that’s the team that Barcelona hopes it won’t face in the Champions League quarterfinals. The other Spanish side has exposed Barcelona’s defensive weaknesses. As such, Atleti could prove to be Barcelona’s toughest opponent.
However, Barcelona fans shouldn’t pin their hopes on an upset. It looks like Tottenham is in a free fall. Their biggest concern will be to avoid relegation. That’s why they may just bow out of the Champions League this season.
Barcelona Can Still Win on Offense Alone
So, the biggest objection to Barcelona’s dominance is defense. But then again, having Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Marcus Rashford is enough firepower to muscle past the Round of 16.
That said, Tuesday’s Copa del Rey match could give fans a glimpse of what to expect in a Champions League quarterfinal matchup.
The Copa del Rey semi-final match should see both sides dress their starting lineups. As such, there will be plenty of expectation following the match. Anything short of a dominant performance from the Catalan squad will lead to questions.
An Atleti victory would raise even more concerns about Barcelona’s chances of making it to the Champions League semi-final.
All told, the path forward won’t be easy for Barcelona. But there’s certainly plenty of optimism surrounding the current La Liga leader.