Barcelona learn who they might face on their way to the Champions League final | OneFootball

After a few underwhelming seasons, FC Barcelona are once again emerging as a force to reckon with on the European level, and their performances in the UEFA Champions League this season must have been more to the liking of their fans than they have been in recent years.

The Catalans were among the best teams in the League Phase of this newly formatted UCL edition and finished this first phase of the tournament placed second on the table.

However, they still have to go a long and difficult way if the Blaugranes want to lift their sixth UCL trophy at the end of this season.

Following the draw held today on Friday, Barcelona already know that they will be facing the Portuguese side Benfica in the Round of 16 of the competition.

Furthermore, as Mundo Deportivo has noted, Hansi Flick’s side now also has an idea of which opponents to expect if they advance further into the competition.

In the quarter-final stage, the Catalans could be drawn from the winner of the tie between Borussia Dortmund and Lille. Barcelona have played against one of these sides in the League Phase, getting a 2-3 win against the Germans. Meanwhile, Lille had their moment of glory in this first phase as they beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the 2nd matchday of the competition.

Still, either of these sides should not prove to be too difficult an opponent for the Blaugrana team if they manage to advance to the quarter-final stage. But a significantly more intense tie might be waiting for them in the semi-finals if they are able to make their way to this stage of the competition.

For the semis, Barcelona would face either the winners of the Round of 16 tie between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, or the winner of the tie between Feyenoord and Inter Milan. Barring perhaps Feyenoord, all the rest of the three teams would be quite formidable opponents.

On a more positive note, the Blaugranes will be able to avoid the likes of Paris Saint Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Arsenal on their road to the final.

For now, the Catalans will have to ensure they get a win against a Benfica side that surely looks to be a more manageable opponent, but still remains a team that can spring a surprise against Barcelona, as recent history stands witness.