A tough schedule to start 2026: Barça will play 9 matches in January

FC Barcelona will return to work next Monday, December 29th, with the aim of preparing for an intense start to the year—as has been the custom in recent seasons—with four titles at stake. The team will have two days of training prior to the New Year's holidays and, afterwards, one more session before the first match of 2026, on Saturday, January 3rd, against Espanyol.

Following the visit to Cornellà, there could be seven more challenges during the month for the side managed by Hansi Flick. Only two of these will be played at the Spotify Camp Nou and another pair on neutral ground, as is the case for the Spanish Super Cup. Once the derby against the 'pericos' is over, the squad will travel to Saudi Arabia to compete for the first trophy of the season.

The Spanish Super Cup, the first title at stake to start the year

Barça will debut in the Super Cup on Wednesday, January 7th, against Athletic in Jeddah (21:00 CEST). The Culés arrive as League and Cup champions to defend the title obtained in 2025 against Real Madrid (2-5), who will play the second semifinal against Atlético a day later (Thursday the 8th).

The winners of both ties will face each other on Sunday, January 11th, in Jeddah to decide the champion. In the last three editions, all held in Saudi Arabia, there was a Clásico in the final, with Blaugrana victories in 2023 and 2025, while Madrid took the title in 2024. 

The last Super Cup final without a Barça-Madrid matchup was in 2022, which ended in a 2-0 win for the 'Merengue' side against Athletic. In that edition, the Whites eliminated the Catalans in the semifinals (2-3).

Barcelona's matches in the 2026 Spanish Super Cup:

1. Semifinal: Wednesday, January 07: vs Athletic Club in Jeddah (21:00 CEST).
2. Final: Sunday, January 11: vs Real Madrid in Jeddah (21:00 CEST)

LaLiga and the Copa del Rey present significant challenges in January

Lamine Yamal, during Barça-Real Sociedad (2-1)

Once Barcelona's participation in the Spanish Super Cup concludes, the team will turn its focus to the Copa del Rey. The Round of 16 will be played between Tuesday, January 13th, and Thursday, January 15th, with the Blaugrana side visiting Racing de Santander (Thursday the 15th, 21:00 h).

After the Copa del Rey Round of 16, the Blaugrana squad will return to LaLiga action. In Matchday 20, the first of the second half of the season, the Culés will visit Real Sociedad on Sunday, January 18th. The following weekend, the team will finally return to the Spotify Camp Nou to host Oviedo for MD21. To close the month, they will visit Elche on Saturday the 31st (21:00 h).

Barcelona's upcoming matches in the League and Copa del Rey:

1. Saturday, January 03: vs Espanyol in Cornellà (21:00 CEST), LaLiga matchday 18.
2. Thursday, January 15: vs Racing in Santander (21:00 CEST), Copa del Rey Round of 16.
3. Sunday, January 18: vs Real Sociedad in San Sebastián, LaLiga matchday 20.
4. Sunday, January 25: vs Real Oviedo at Camp Nou, LaLiga matchday 21.
5. Saturday, January 31: vs Elche in Alicante, LaLiga matchday 22.

Two Champions League matchdays with an obligation to win

Amidst the league match against Oviedo, Barça must close out the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. For Matchday 7, the Culés will visit Slavia Prague on Wednesday, January 21st. A week later, on Wednesday the 28th, they will host Copenhagen in the eighth and final round of the league stage.

Flick's side currently occupy 15th place in the table with 10 points. In this regard, Barcelona must secure the remaining 6 points and wait to see if a total of 16 points is enough to enter the TOP 8, which allows clubs to advance directly to the Round of 16.

Alternatively, the 16-point tally could guarantee Barça a spot in the play-offs in February with home-field advantage, meaning they would play the second leg at home. Additionally, the Culés would face one of the teams qualified in the lower section of the TOP 24. 

Barcelona's upcoming matches in the UEFA Champions League:

1. Wednesday, January 21: vs Slavia Prague in Czechia, Champions League matchday 7.
2. Wednesday, January 28: vs Copenhagen at Camp Nou, Champions League matchday 8.