The great opportunity Barcelona missed against Eintracht

Published New:10/12/2025 - 19:05h

Updated New:10/12/2025 - 19:05h

Barça did their homework against Eintracht (2-1) with a key victory to maintain their chances of qualifying directly for the Champions League round of 16. However, Flick's team needed a more comfortable win to improve their position in the standings

FC Barcelona secured their third victory in the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 group stage against Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1). Hansi Flick's team was obligated to win on their return to Spotify Camp Nou for two significant reasons. Firstly, to establish themselves in the middle/upper part of the standings, which guarantees the team's participation in the Europa League knockout round playoffs.

In the second instance, the three points against Eintracht keep alive **the possibility of breaking into the top eight classified teams** in the standings at the end of the league phase. This is not a minor aspect, as it allows direct advancement to the round of 16, without having to play the 'play-offs' in February.

For now, Barça is in 14th place with 10 points, just 2 behind Liverpool (12), who currently hold eighth place. Ahead of the Catalan team are four other teams with 10 points and Tottenham (9th), who have 11 units. In this regard, goal difference becomes crucially important for the final stretch of the group stage.

Barça couldn't take advantage of Eintracht's defensive fragility

Against Eintracht, Barça not only needed to win, but also had to do so, preferably by a wide margin. The Germans had conceded 14 goals in the previous five matchdays, including **a 'handful' in Madrid against Atlético on matchday 2 (5-1)** and another identical result at home against Liverpool (1-5).

The Catalans, for their part, had crushed Olympiacos (6-1) in their last Champions League clash at Montjuïc, and everything seemed set for another resounding victory. The team scored 22 goals in their last five league matches, including a 'handful' against Betis on Saturday (3-5).

Eintracht, on the other hand, was coming off a Bundesliga defeat against **Leipzig** (6-0), but they managed to make it difficult for a Barça side that, for the fifth consecutive game, started the match by conceding a goal. Ultimately, a brace from Jules Koundé orchestrated the comeback, but the Blaugrana team could only add 1 more goal to their goal difference, which is now +3

Goal difference, key to defining Champions League playoff positions

Barcelona, for now, has 14 goals for and 11 against in 6 matches. Of the five teams currently tied with 10 points, only Borussia Dortmund has scored more goals than the Catalans (17). However, Flick's team has the worst goal difference among the clubs with 10 units.

Dortmund registers a +6 in their goal average, followed by **Chelsea** and **Manchester City** (both with +5) and **Sporting CP** (+4). City and Dortmund can reach 11 or 13 points on Wednesday, while seven other teams also have options to surpass the 10-point barrier at the close of matchday 6.

In any case, goal difference and the number of goals scored are key factors in defining final positions in the overall standings in case of a tie in points. In 24/25, Aston Villa managed to break into the TOP-8 with 16 points and a +7 GD. Will this advantage be enough to avoid the playoffs in 2026?

Finishing near the TOP-8, another advantage for the Champions League playoffs

If they fail to enter the TOP-8, Barcelona must do everything possible to finish as high as possible in the standings. The clubs classified from 9th to 16th place have the advantage of defining the round of 16 playoff at home. Furthermore, finishing, for example, in ninth or tenth place could theoretically allow the Catalan team to benefit from a draw against a lower-ranked opponent.

This, of course, depending on the clubs that finish in the lower part of the TOP-16. Last season, for example, Real Madrid finished the league phase in 11th place and had to face Manchester City in the 'play-off'. As the table stands currently, Barça, in fourteenth place, **would face Qarabag or PSV** in a potential repechage.