FC Barcelona and Real Madrid have a slim chance of facing each other in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League for a place in the round of 16. Due to the new format of the competition, both teams could face each other in the so-called 'play off', an extra eliminatory that must be played by the teams that finish the league phase between 9th and 24th place. For now, culés (16 ) and 'merengues' (17) are one on top of the other, a position that would leave a high probability of witnessing a Clásico in February.
In accordance with the criteria of the new Champions format, the clubs that finish the league phase from ninth to sixteenth place will play the second leg of the play off at home. In addition, the draw to be held on January 31, 2025 will have no restrictions by league and the rivals will be paired according to their position in the general table. For example, the ninth and tenth classified will face the twenty-fourth or twenty-third; while the eleventh and twelfth would collide before the 21st or 22nd, respectively.
In this way, if they finish the league phase in the current position (16), the culés could face Real Madrid (17) or Paris Saint-Germain (18). Hence the importance of adding as many points and goals as possible, since each result can change the position of several clubs in the general classification. Barça has six games pending, three at home (Bayern, Brest and Atalanta) and three away (Dortmund, Estrella Roja and Benfica).
Barça and Madrid could star in their third Classic in the Champions League
Thus Cocas, Barça and Madrid have a small chance of crossing paths in the Champions League, something that has only happened on two previous occasions, both in the semi-finals. The first was in 2001/02, with the 'merengue' winning 1-3 on aggregate thanks to a 0-2 victory at Camp Nou and equality at the Santiago Bernabéu (1-1). Nine years later, in 2010/11, the Blaugranas took revenge with the same overall score (3-1), then won in Chamartín (0-2) and tied at the culé temple (1-1).
The play off matches will be played between Tuesday, February 11 and Thursday, February 18, 2025, the date on which the round of 16 usually began with the previous format. This phase will take place in the first and second week of March, with 8 of the 16 clubs classified since the last day of the league phase (January 29).