The draw for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League 2025/26, in addition to leaving great duels, also fulfilled wishes. In this case, Joan Laporta will now be able to see the match he expressed wanting during the Asian tour of the Blaugrana team.
On that occasion, the leader of the Catalan team stated that he would have liked to play the final of the last Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, but his team's elimination in the semifinals against Inter Milan prevented this.
However, he added that he hoped that in the new edition (the 25/26) of the competition, Barça and the Parisian team would face each other, considering the fact that they are two of the best teams in Europe.
"We didn't play the final against PSG; I hope that with the new format we will cross paths this year. I think PSG did very well last year (...). Unfortunately, we didn't play against them. But everyone who likes football says that we were the two most competitive teams,” Laporta argued.
The league stage fulfills Laporta's desire
In this context, 'Jan' will not have to wait so long, as Barcelona and PSG will face each other in the Champions League league stage, that is, in the first phase of the top European competition.
The Blaugrana team will be the home team in this match. It should be noted that with the new format of the competition, 4 matches are played at home and 4 as visitors.
Also, on that occasion, Joan Laporta was happy with the new format of the Champions League, praising the president of UEFA, Aleksander Ceferin, for his commitment to improving the tournament.
"I congratulate President Ceferin for how he has improved the competition. He knows about football and enjoys it, and he will surely like to see a match between Barça and PSG. I hope we have that opportunity next season," added 'Jan'.
Barcelona, going for the Champions 25/26 title
In this order of ideas, Barça will not only face an old acquaintance like Paris Saint-Germain, but will also face Chelsea, as a visitor at Stamford Bridge.
In addition, they will have to face Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiacos FC and FC Copenhagen as locals, while, apart from the 'Blues', they will have to visit Club Brugge, Slavia Prague and Newcastle United.
In this regard, after the match between Barcelona and Villarreal, for matchday 37 of the 2024/25 league competition, coach Hansi Flick was dissatisfied with what was achieved during the year (League, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup) and indicated that he wanted more.
“I feel that next year we must work harder and harder to win more titles. I want more titles. Our idea is that we can improve, evolve,” Flick declared.
In this way, the leader of the Catalan team's squad directly pointed to the Champions League as the outstanding title to be obtained during the 2025/26 campaign.