SM
Thursday, March 28
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Who could Barcelona face in the Europa League playoffs?

:Headline: Who could Barcelona face in the Europa League playoffs?:
Sports Mole looks at who Barcelona could face in the Europa League playoff round following their elimination from the Champions League.
Sports Mole

Barcelona have suffered the ignominy of dropping into the Europa League for the first time since 2003-04, having only managed a third-placed finish in their Champions League group.

The troubled Spanish giants failed to make it through a Champions League group stage for the first time since 2000-01, finishing behind Bayern Munich and Benfica in Group E and scoring just two goals along the way.

While the Catalans boast a rich history in Europe, lifting the Champions League trophy five times, they have never won the continent's secondary competition in its guise as either the UEFA Cup or the Europa League.

Manager Xavi has already set his sights on ending that record as Barca look to make the best of a bad situation, and despite their troubles they will be many people's favourites to go all the way in their new competition.

However, a reshuffling of the tournament's structure this season means that Barcelona will enter the Europa League as an unseeded team, and must first get through a playoff round in order to reach the last 16.

The playoff round will be against one of the teams that finished as runners-up in their Europa League group, although they cannot face another Spanish team - which means that both Real Betis and Real Sociedad are off the table.

There are six remaining teams that Barcelona could be drawn against, though, including tricky potential fixtures against Serie A duo Lazio and Napoli.

Barca have played both of those clubs twice before, scoring seven goals without reply in two wins against Lazio and winning one and drawing one against Napoli.

Xavi's side could also be drawn against Olympiacos or Scottish champions Rangers, both of whom they have also previously faced twice, with a record of one win and one draw against both.

Barca have therefore never lost against any of their potential playoff opponents, having never previously faced the other two options - Braga and Dinamo Zagreb.

The draw will take place in Nyon on Monday at 12pm GMT - you can find out everything you need to know about the new Europa League playoff round and the draw by clicking here. body check tags ::

amp_article__472508 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-12-10 14:52:45:
html db last update - 2021-12-10 13:44:07 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Share this article now:
GV
Read Next:
Europa League playoffs: What are they? When is the draw? Who is involved?
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Xavi Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Europa League playoffs: What are they? When is the draw? Who is involved?
Real Madrid 'priced out of move for Liverpool's Alexander-Arnold'

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

1

MC

Key Man City duo miss training ahead of Arsenal title clash

2

KM

Preview: Hearts vs. Kilmarnock - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PH

Barcelona could be missing seven players for Las Palmas clash

4

BC

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

5

A'

Man Utd could raise £105m through player sales this summer

6

MU

Why Chelsea winger Sterling will relish Burnley game

7

WC

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PB

How Barcelona could line up against Las Palmas

9

HB

Key midfield trio 'absent from Real Madrid training on Thursday'

10

KM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .