Barcelona look to breathe new life into UCL campaign against fragile Frankfurt | OneFootball

Champions League football returns to Camp Nou on Tuesday and Barcelona see it as an ideal moment to shift full attention back to a campaign that has not met expectations.

Hansi Flick’s side sit clear at the top of La Liga and have created meaningful distance between themselves and Real Madrid, giving them breathing space that did not exist earlier in the season.

The league cushion has altered the tone around the club and removed the need to juggle priorities as aggressively, which makes the return to European competition feel timely.

Barcelona have been sub-standard in Europe, and Flick knows the last phase of this league-round format does not allow for much margin.

They were beaten convincingly at Stamford Bridge on matchday five and looked exposed tactically and emotionally in a game that underlined their lack of control away from home.

The high defensive line that has worked domestically was punished repeatedly, and Barcelona’s response offered little pushback. They have collected few points relative to expectations and sit lower in the overall standings than any contender would have imagined before the season began.

The return to Camp Nou should offer them a reset, as well as an atmosphere that supporters have waited years to recreate on a Champions League night.

The stadium is expected to provide a level of energy missing from the early fixtures at Montjuic and Barcelona will hope that their attacking rhythm carries over into Europe.

They have won each of their last three games in all competitions, scoring heavily and rediscovering fluency in possession. Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in the weekend win over Real Betis, while Lamine Yamal and Roony Bardghji continue to provide speed and invention in forward areas.

Eintracht Frankfurt arrive in a far weaker condition and have shown severe defensive fragility in recent outings.

They conceded heavily at Leipzig and have been punished repeatedly by direct attacks and fast combinations. The drop in form has pushed them down the standings and added pressure on a squad that does not look physically capable of handling sustained periods without the ball.

They have taken only one point from their last three European matches and have struggled to compete with opponents who press aggressively.

Barcelona see a vulnerable opponent and a valuable opportunity, but Flick will know that vulnerability has cut both ways in Europe this season.

Frankfurt exploited Barcelona in their previous European meetings and will not arrive intimidated by the occasion. They also understand that Barcelona have given opponents chances in every Champions League match so far, and another lapse would not be out of character.

The home crowd expects a statement performance, and Barcelona cannot afford to allow a team struggling domestically to feel comfortable for long periods.

The setting looks perfect for a revival, but anything less than intensity risks another night that complicates a campaign already in need of correction.