Longing for Champions

Barça has no choice but to watch the pompous Champions League go by from the edge of the Europa League.

The tournament contemplates a phase prior to the round of 16 that forces those classified as third in their groups of the maximum competition —and therefore eliminated—, to face the second in the Europa League itself.

And the draw provided for the azulgrana a fearsome cross with Napoli at an unusual time for the Camp Nou: 6:45 p.m. (Movistar).

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The Italians are fighting to win the league, while the Barcelona players are fighting to stay in the Champions zone.

"It's going to be a very even tie," admitted Xavi, the Barça coach, after stating that his team is a "candidate, not a favourite" to reach a final to be held on May 18 at Pizjuán, Sevilla's stadium, precisely the king of the competition with his six titles, the last in 2020.

The reliability of Napoli contrasts with the irregularity of Barça.

It's hard for the Barça forwards to score goals – they added two in the six Champions League games – and the defenders don't know how to avoid them: they concede an average of 1.34 per game, 10 in the last five games.

Araujo's injury and Alves' non-registration further weaken a team whose career wears down even the coach: "More than a hundred days it seems like a hundred years after the things that have happened," Xavi interjected yesterday.

The coach tries to motivate the players with the lure of the Champions League anthem: "We have to rebel to be there again," he said;

“Listening to the music makes me angry and angry”, a fanfare that was whistled with enthusiasm when it was played at the Camp Nou since the club was sanctioned by UEFA.

A complicated date also awaits Real Sociedad in Leipzig (9:00 p.m.).

The German team fell out of the maximum continental tournament, after losing to Paris Saint Germain and Manchester City, and has only lost one game in 2022. The defeat, moreover, was against Bayern Munich.

The victory against Granada, however, has encouraged a Real team that still stings the 0-4 conceded last season against Manchester United.

Oyarzabal's recovery contrasts with Januzaj's absence, while Isak's goals are expected.

The numbers, the sensations and the rival endorse Sevilla instead in their appointment with Dinamo Zagreb (9:00 p.m.).

The disappointment at being eliminated from the Champions League is somewhat offset by the Andalusians' favorite tournament, also defeated in the Cup, but the only ones to challenge Madrid in the League.

The line-up is a mystery, Lopetegui conditioned by absences —Lamela, Suso, Jordán, Montiel— and doubts —Rakitic, Tecatito Corona, Martial—.

The best news would be the reappearance of Ocampos and Navas.

Pellegrini will also be missing two of his most emblematic players, Fekir and Canales, in the game that Betis plays at Zenit St. Petersburg.

The coach will rotate in times of wine and roses in a team that also competes for the Cup and aims very high in the League.

Betis plays liberated and with joy compared to the uncertainty of Real and the anguish of Sevilla and Barça, which had not been relegated to the Europa League since 2003-2004, precisely in the first year of Laporta's mandate.

The four teams in the Spanish League, in any case, aim high in a tournament with 24 participants and whose winner will obtain a place for the next Champions League.

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