The Classic in the Champions! Can Barça and Madrid face each other this year?

FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will face Benfica and Atlético de Madrid, respectively, in the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League. The Blaugrana team will start their tie in Lisbon, while the 'merengues' begin a new Madrid derby at home. The Whites and 'colchoneros' managed to avoid each other in the 'semis' of the Copa del Rey, but not in the top European competition.

Regarding the Classic, the possibility of seeing a new Barça-Madrid is still open. Both teams faced each other in the semifinals of the 2001/02 and 2010/11 seasons, with a balanced record. The culés won 3-1 on aggregate in the tie played in 2011, advancing to the final which they would go on to win at Wembley against Manchester United. Madrid did the same in 2002, winning 3-1 on aggregate to later win the 'orejona' in Glasgow against Bayer Leverkusen (2-1).

Barcelona and Real Madrid manage to avoid each other until a hypothetical final

However, a new Spanish Classic in the Champions this season will only be possible if both teams reach the final to be held on May 31 in Munich. Both teams are placed on opposite sides of the bracket, with Barça waiting for Dortmund or Lille if they overcome Benfica. In the 'semis', Bayern Munich, Leverkusen, Inter Milan, and Feyenoord could be the possible Blaugrana rivals.

For Madrid, on the other hand, the path looks much more complex. If the Whites eliminate Atlético, they must face Arsenal or PSV Eindhoven in the quarterfinals. And, in the semifinals, their rival will come from the survivor of the matchups Paris Saint-Germain vs Liverpool and Bruges vs Aston Villa. The 'merengues' can play the second leg of the quarterfinals at home, while Barça already knows they will close the quarters and the 'semis' as visitors.

Will 2025 be the year of a Clásico in the Champions League final?

Thus, there can only be a Barça-Madrid in the Champions final, something that has never happened before. Both teams reached the semifinals in 2012 and 2013 with clear chances of facing each other in the final, but were eliminated first by Chelsea and Bayern in 2012 (despite being favorites), while in 2013 the story repeated itself at the hands of Bayern and Dortmund.

In 2015, Barça did manage to advance to the final after eliminating the Bavarian team, but Madrid fell short against Juventus. That was the last time both teams were a step away from crossing paths in the decisive match, as Barcelona only reached the 'semis' again in 2019, a year in which the 'merengues' were eliminated in the round of 16 by Ajax.

🏆 Barça's path in the knockout stage:

1. ⚽ Round of 16: FC Barcelona vs Benfica. First leg: March 5 in Lisbon. Second leg: March 11 in Montjuïc.
2. ⚽ Quarterfinals: FC Barcelona vs Dortmund/Lille. First leg: April 8 or 9 in Montjuïc. Second leg: April 15 or 16 (to be determined).
3. ⚽ Semifinals: FC Barcelona vs Bayern/Leverkusen/Feyenoord/Inter. First leg: April 29 or 30 in Montjuïc. Second leg: May 6 or 7 (to be determined).

🏆 Real Madrid's path in the knockout stage:

1. ⚽ Round of 16: Real Madrid vs Atlético de Madrid. First leg: March 4 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Second leg: March 12 at the Metropolitano.
2. ⚽ Quarterfinals: Real Madrid vs Arsenal/PSV Eindhoven. First leg: April 8 or 9 in London. Second leg: April 15 or 16 in Madrid.
3. ⚽ Semifinals: Real Madrid vs PSG/Liverpool/Bruges/Aston Villa. First leg: April 29 or 30 in Madrid. Second leg: May 6 or 7 (to be determined).