FC Barcelona requested that UEFA move their second UCL Rnd of 16 match vs. top opponent from Tuesday, March 17th, to Wednesday, March 18th.
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| FC Barcelona players during a UEFA Champions League match at Camp Nou |
The reasoning behind this unusual request is based on club politics rather than logistics. FC Barcelona's president will hold presidential elections on March 15th and wish to avoid confusion due to 2 major events coinciding (a vital European fixture plus the 3rd most important institutional event in the club’s history).
Reports from ESPN Deportes indicate that these types of requests are very rare in today’s European football environment; nevertheless, FC Barcelona believes that the current circumstances warrant such an exception.
FC Barcelona’s Tight Schedule Raises Concerns for Players and Management
Barcelona is set to play a really important game against Sevilla in La Liga on the same day as the elections. The game is scheduled to start at 4:15 PM. La Liga is already thinking about moving the match if Barcelona has to play in Europe.
What's even more worrying is what happens after that. If they play a tough game on March 15 with elections going on, and then have to get ready for a Champions League game just two days later, it's going to be super hard on the players, staff, and everyone at the club.
For a club that really wants to be stable, this timing is just about the worst it could be.
Champions League Draw Adds Pressure
Tension in the match is even more heightened by the level of potential opponents. Paris Saint, Germain and Newcastle United have been identified as the most probable Round of 16 rivals after the play, offs.
PSG proved their class by scoring an exciting 3, 2 away win against Monaco, whereas Newcastle topped the scorers by 6, 1 against Qarabag, thus highlighting their offensive power. Both sides would be a tough challenge for Barca no matter who they face, and especially since the first game is planned to be an away game on March 10.
Flick knows that Barcelona will have the second home leg in the famous Camp Nou as a result of their seedings. The home leg will be played in front of a huge audience and will highlight the importance of strong European performances for Barcelona.
The team has begun preparing for the away first leg, as this will show the true maturity and tactical discipline of the team. The fact that at this level of the competition one or two mistakes can be fatal for any team is very much in the mind of Flick's squad.
Elections, Expectations, and European Ambitions
Behind the scenes, there's just as much pressure on the club's management. People close to the team say the players know that doing well in Europe could really sway things when it comes to the elections.
The Champions League final in Budapest on May 30 is still the main goal. Winning the top European title wouldn't just bring Barcelona back to the top of the continent, it would also give a big boost to whoever takes over as president.
Right now, Joan Laporta is still the favorite, but some other people are starting to catch up as they share their plans for where they want to take the club.
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