Three Ways Barcelona Can Still Make It To The Champions League Round Of 16 And Avoid Relegation To The Europa League After Inter Draw

Barcelona are in the real risk of dropping to the Europa League from the Champions League for a second consecutive season, after their 3-3 draw at home against Inter Milan. The Catalans needed a win here to make their path to the knockouts a little bit easy, but despite leading on the night they had to twice come from back to earn a draw. The Catalans now have just one win from their four group games, and sit third in the table, three points behind second-placed Inter and eight adrift of leaders Bayern Munich.

With their chances of making it to the Round of 16 looking bleak, Xavi’s men can still pull off a miracle to avoid relegation to the Europa and continue their Champions League expedition. Victories in the last two games against Bayern and Viktoria still won’t guarantee them knockouts as they need to finish above Inter to achieve the feat. Finishing on level with the Italians too won’t help them as the tiebreaker rule states if two teams accumulate same points, points won by the respective teams against each other will be considered. Inter have collected 4 points from their two games against Barca, while the Catalans have just 1.

Three ways Barcelona can still sneak into the Champions League knockouts

1. Beat Bayern Munich On Matchday 5

Perhaps the most difficult task for the Catalan outfit. Barcelona have been crushed by Bayern in the two sides’ last four meetings with an aggregate score of 16-2. The most recent of their meetings on matchday 2 ended in Bayern’s another beating of Barca with a somewhat respectable scoreline of 2-0. Xavi will have to steer his team to a win against the Bavarians at any cost, if they are to keep their slim hopes of qualifying to the round of 16 alive.

Barcelona can take inspiration from their last game against the Bundesliga champions, where despite losing they put on a much improved performance. Home advantage will be another plus for the Catalans, but they cannot end the 90 minutes with anything less than a win. Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 5 goals in 4 games for Barcelona needs another great night this time against his former side.

2. Inter Collect Less Than 3 Points On Matchday 5 & 6

Barcelona will need a favour from both Bayern and Plzen to steal points off Inter. They need to win two of their remaining two games and Inter to either lose both of their games, or draw both in order to make it through to the round of 16. While Bayern can do the job against Inter, it would be too much to ask from Plzen. However, the Czech side managed to score an impressive 2 goals against Bayern last night and could take that gut and grit to Inter.

3. Beat Viktoria Plzen On Matchday 6

The most easier of jobs for Barcelona. They were flying against Plzen on matchday 1, beating them 5-1 with a hat-trick from Lewandowski and goals from Franck Kessie and Ferran Torres. Barca need a repeat of the result and collect all three points against Plzen, with the hope of Inter tumbling against both Bayern and Plzen. This way, the La Liga side finishes above Simone Inzaghi’s men and clinch a round of 16 berth.