Barcelona set for formality match with Plzen

Barcelona will face Viktoria Plzen in their last Champions League group game in a dead rubber tie after being condemned to the Europa League 

Barcelona defeated Plzeň 5-1 at Camp Nou, with Robert Lewandowski becoming the first player to score a UCL hat-trick for three different teams. 

However, a similar feat in the second leg on Tuesday in the Czech Republic will be ineffective to the reality on the ground.

Barcelona, irrespective of the result, will not progress to the next round of the UCL but rather drop into the UEFA Europa League.

Having already fallen to losses at Bayern Munich and Inter Milan, another defeat will make it four UCL competition proper away losses in a row for the first time since October 1997. 

A 1-0 La Liga win at the weekend, a result that kept Barcelona within a point of league leaders Real Madrid and may assure the Blaugrana of a win away from home.

Meanwhile, Xavi has bemoaned the club’s current situation and form.

“I have lived through the worst period in the club’s history, from 2000 to 2003, and the best, from when [Frank] Rijkaard arrived until I retired,” Xavi said.

The Spaniard said that the club is in an unexpected situation, especially with the elimination from the UEFA Champions League.

However, he maintained his belief in the idea and insisted that the team is still on the right track to winning a title in 2023. Barcelona are just a point behind Real Madrid in the La Liga courtesy of their 1-0 win over Valencia, while Real Madrid dropped points at home to Girona.

Meanwhile, Porto has ensured Atlético Madrid won’t deny them progression on the final matchday for a second season running. 

Yannick Carrasco’s missed penalty in Atletico Madrid’s last UEFA champions league game against Bayern Leverkusen secured the progression for Porto for the seventh time from their last ten UCL appearances.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid must avoid defeat and hope Bayer Leverkusen doesn’t win against Club Brugge to secure the Europa League spot.

 Daniel Ademiju Idowu