Round of 16 in sight: the possible rivals of Barça if they finish second

FC Barcelona's victory at Signal Iduna Park (2-3) left Hansi Flick's team as the only follower of Liverpool in the overall standings of the UEFA Champions League and just one point away from mathematically securing their direct passage to the round of 16. This translates to avoiding the 'play-off' phase and also allows the team to have an idea of the rivals they could face in the next phase.

According to the new format of the top European club competition, the top eight in the table advance to the round of 16, while those ranked ninth to twenty-fourth must play a preliminary knockout round, home and away, to determine the remaining eight clubs that will compete in the round of 16. For the round of 16, the draw has restrictions by league (Barça cannot face another Spanish club), but can face any of their eight rivals in the initial phase.

Barça could face the same rival in the round of 16 of the Champions

In this sense, the Catalans could once again face teams like Benfica (their next rival in matchday 7) or Monaco, the only blue and claret stumble so far (in matchday 1). If they finish the league phase in second place, Barça would have to face in the round of 16 any of the four teams that finish between fifteenth and eighteenth place in the table.

After matchday 6, these teams would be Benfica (15), Monaco (16), Sporting CP (17) or Feyenoord (18). From there, two teams would qualify after the 'play-off' that, in the round of 16 draw, would face Liverpool or Barça, with 'reds' and Catalans guaranteed to play the return leg of this tie at home. From the quarter-finals onwards, there are no restrictions on matchups between clubs from the same country.