The tough schedule awaiting Barça in January: they could play 8 matches in 25 days!

January will be a month filled with matches for FC Barcelona and the Spanish clubs competing in European competitions. The format change approved by UEFA for the Champions and the Europa League forces teams to play two more matchdays in January, meaning Barça could face up to eight different opponents in a span of 25 days, from Saturday, January 4 to Wednesday, January 29.

Hansi Flick's team will return to action with a visit to Barbastro, for the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. If they advance past the round against the Huesca team, the culés will have to play the round of 16 on Wednesday the 15th, just before the start of the second half of LaLiga. The azulgrana team will return to the tournament visiting Getafe on Saturday the 18th, needing to overcome the poor streak with which they ended 2024.

The Supercopa de España and the Champions, two headaches for Barça

After the match against Barbastro, Barça must travel to Arabia for the Supercopa de España, where they will face Athletic Club. The semifinals against the Basques will be on Wednesday, January 8 and, if they defeat the 'lions', Barça will play the final against Mallorca or Real Madrid on Sunday the 12th, in Jeddah. The following week, after the match against Getafe, the Catalans will have to travel to Lisbon for the match of matchday 7 of the Champions, against Benfica.

Barça only needs to draw in Portugal on Tuesday, January 21, to secure their place in the TOP-8 and thus their direct qualification for the round of 16. However, Flick's team will look to finish the league phase as leaders, as they are only 3 points behind Liverpool. The culés will have a breather until Sunday the 26th, when they host Valencia in Montjuïc. The month ends with the last Champions match, at home against Atalanta.

The eight matches that FC Barcelona could play in January

1. UD Barbastro vs FC Barcelona, in Huelva (Saturday, January 4, for the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey).
2. Athletic Club vs FC Barcelona, in Jeddah (Wednesday, January 8, for the semifinals of the Supercopa de España).
3. FC Barcelona vs Mallorca/Real Madrid, in Jeddah (Sunday, January 12, for the final of the Supercopa de España).**
4. To be confirmed vs FC Barcelona (Wednesday, January 15, for the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey).**
5. Getafe vs FC Barcelona, in Madrid (Saturday, January 18, for matchday 20 of LaLiga EA Sports).
6. Benfica vs FC Barcelona, in Lisbon (Tuesday, January 21, for matchday 7 of the UEFA Champions League).
7. FC Barcelona vs Valencia, in Montjuïc (Sunday, January 26, for matchday 21 of LaLiga EA Sports).
8. FC Barcelona vs Atalanta, in Montjuïc (Wednesday, January 29, for matchday 8 of the UEFA Champions League).

**If they advance past their previous round