Slavia Prague vs Barcelona, Champions League: Preview

Slavia Prague (34rd, 3pts) vs FC Barcelona (15th, 10pts)*

*Standings at time of writing

Competition/Round: 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 7

Barcelona Outs & Doubts: Marc-André ter Stegen, João Cancelo, Gavi, Ferran Torres, Lamine Yamal, Andreas Christensen (out)

Slavia Prague Outs & Doubts: Tomas Holes, David Doudera (doubt)

Date/Time: Wednesday, January 21, 2016, 9pm CET/WAT (Barcelona & Nigeria), 8pm GMT (UK), 3pm ET, 12pm PT (USA), 1.30am IST (India, Thursday)

Venue: Eden Arena, Prague, Czech Republic

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (ENG)

VAR: Stuart Attwell (ENG)

How to watch on TV: Not Available (USA), TNT Sports 6 (UK), SuperSport (Nigeria), SONY TEN 1 (India), Movistar (Spain), others

How to watch online: Paramount+ (USA), discovery+ (UK), Sony LIV (India), Movistar+ (Spain), others

Following an incredibly frustrating defeat to Real Sociedad in a crazy La Liga game at the weekend, Barcelona return to action for a huge European match as the Catalans travel to the beautiful capital of the Czech Republic to face Slavia Prague in Matchday 7 of the league phase of this season’s Champions League on Wednesday night.

Barça come into this one in desperate need of three points to keep their slim hopes of a Top 8 finish alive, and while they need a ton of other results to go their way to arrive at the final matchday next week still with a chance to guarantee an automatic spot in the Round of 16 and avoid the dreaded path of the Playoffs, nothing else will matter if the Catalans don’t do their job and win the final two games.

In theory, these are the two easiest matches in the schedule for Barça as they face Slavia away and Copenhagen at home next Wednesday and six points plus a bunch of combinations could be enough to secure eighth place, but this entire league phase has proven that Barça have had nothing easy in Europe this season.

Their last loss before Sunday’s craziness at Anoeta was away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last November, which really complicated their position in the table but also served as a turning point as the Blaugrana went on an 11-game winning streak, claimed their first trophy of the season by winning El Clásico, and clearly improved in every aspect ever since Hansi Flick promised they would get better after that horrible night in London.

Things have certainly improved, but all of that improvement has been shown in domestic competition only. Barça haven’t had a great win in Europe yet, with a hard-fought victory over Newcastle on the opening matchday their only win of note so far. The 6-1 against Olympiacos doesn’t tell the full story of a game that was close until a controversial red card against the Greek side, and the 2-1 win over Frankfurt at home was also far from impressive and needed a rare two-goal night by Jules Kounde to secure all three points.

Barça must win the next two games in the Champions League by showing their superior quality and making a statement that the improvement shown in the last two months is real, and that the domestic form can be translated into continental success even if they fail to finish in the Top 8 and have to go through the Playoffs.

Flick praised Slavia’s high pressing and defensive prowess in his pre-match press conference, but the simple truth is that Wednesday’s opponents are not very good: Slavia have not won yet and the only two goals they’ve scored came on opening night against Bodo/Glimt. It must be said, though, that two of the three points they’ve earned so far came in hard-fought 0-0 draws against Atalanta and Athletic Club, which are solid results against solid European teams, so they obviously deserve respect.

Barça should still be considered heavy favorites, however, and it’s time for them to stamp their authority on the European stage again. Their performances in the Champions League were by far the most enjoyable part of Hansi Flick’s first season in charge despite a domestic treble and a traumatic semi-final exit, and it would be lovely to see the Blaugrana play well and win big again on the European stage.

The task is simple: seven days, two games, two wins, six points, and two convincing performances. Whatever happens with the table will happen and it’s out of our control, but we can either finish the league phase the right way or have very little hope about our chances in the knockout rounds. I know which one I’m choosing.

Let’s dance.

POSSIBLE LINEUPS

Barcelona (4-2-3-1): Joan; Kounde, Cubarsí, Eric, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Fermín, Rashford; Lewandowski

Slavia Prague (4-2-3-1): Stanek; Holes, Zima, Chaloupek, Boril; Moses, Sadilek; Doudera, Provod, Kusej; Chory

PREDICTION

Slavia have a solid defense and will make things tough for Barça, but I’m still expecting the Catalans to show their strength and pick up three massive points in convincing fashion: 3-0 to the visitors.