Barca News
This Thursday, August 31, in the afternoon, Barcelona met its rivals in the group stage of this edition of the Champions League , which will be special for the Blaugranas because the final will be played at Wembley . After the failures of the last two campaigns, Xavi Hernández ‘s men hope to rediscover success in Europe .
The azulgranas have started, unlike 22-23 and 21-22, as the head of the group and have been included in the H. Unlike the two previous editions, Barcelona has, on paper, affordable opponents . It has been a benevolent draw for Xavi ‘s men .
The first rival of the culés has been waiting, Porto , a Champions League classic that fell last season in the round of 16. The Portuguese bloc finished last year as second in its league. Both teams have met five times in the Champions League.
Barcelona ‘s second rival left early. Shakhtar Donetsk , which plays at home in Poland due to the war conflict. In their regular championship, they are currently the leader and have not known defeat at the beginning of the season. Shaktar and Barcelona have met on up to six occasions in the Champions League . The last one, in the quarterfinals of 2010-11 and the Catalans won.
The last ball to come out was the one that completed group H. Antwerp, who passed the last preliminary round of the Champions League , joined Barcelona, Porto and Shakta r . The Belgian block is coached by an old acquaintance of the Barça fans, Mark van Bommel .
Porto, more complicated rival
The Portuguese are a very fierce rival, as they demonstrated last season against Atlético. Many old acquaintances of our football in their ranks such as Pepe, Marcano or Nico González. In the first serious match of the season, they lost to Benfica in the Super Cup, but only their games in the Portuguese league count as victories. With Otavio heading to Al-Nassr in exchange for 60 ‘kilos’, the Portuguese can cheer up the market at the last moment. If not, the goals of the ‘bull’ Martínez will dictate where this team really is.
Shakhtar Donestk, a radical change
The war in Ukraine has affected, as it could not be otherwise, one of the most consistent teams in this competition. The countless list of Brazilian footballers who made up their eleven in previous campaigns has given way to promising young Ukrainians willing to earn a place in the European elite. With the Donbass team, Barcelona will reunite with former Barça player Chigrinsky. Although the most dangerous player is Lassina Traoré who, after his time at Ajax, has established himself as the Ukrainians’ starting forward.
Royal Antwerp, the debuting team
For the first time that the Belgians will compete in the most important competition at club level. One of the most affordable rivals that Barcelona could face. A forceful defense, with Alderweireld and Coulibaly as bastions and a midfield full of youth, where all eyes must focus on Vermeeren (18 years old ) are his hallmarks. The biggest attraction is on the bench: Mark Van Bommel returns to the Camp Nou as coach of the Belgians.
Source: Marca
