Barcelona-Sana
Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman said his team is not among the favorites to win the Champions League title this season after a shaky start for the Catalans in the Spanish League in the new season.
Before facing Hungary's Francesvaros tomorrow at the opening of his group stage in the Champions League, Koeman played down media expectations that Barcelona might be crowned champions of this year's edition of the tournament.
"Barcelona is always competing for titles, whether in the Spanish League or in Europe, but the team is not a candidate this time, although we may reach advanced roles," he said in a press conference.
Barcelona's failure in the Champions League during recent seasons, where it reached the semi-finals only once since its last victory in the title in 2015, was among the main reasons that experts said was the reason why Argentine star Lionel Messi asked to leave the club.
Coman will miss goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jordi Alba, as well as the injured player Samuel Umtiti.