Barcelona will be thanking their lucky stars following the conclusion of the Champions League group stage draw on Thursday, as they have been handed a somewhat favourable draw.
Having been drawn against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan last season, and ultimately finishing behind both in that group, Barcelona will face FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp in this season’s competition.
Royal Antwerp join Barcelona in Group H!
🇪🇸 FC Barcelona
🇵🇹 FC Porto
🇺🇦 Shakhtar Donetsk
🇧🇪 Royal Antwerp— Football España (@footballespana_) August 31, 2023
All three teams won their respective leagues in Portugal, Ukraine and Belgium last season, so it certainly won’t be easy for Xavi Hernandez’s side, and Porto will especially look to challenge them for top spot in the group.
Shakhtar Donetsk are seasoned veterans in the Champions League, and they gave Real Madrid problems in last season’s instalment, so Barcelona will know that they can’t take anything for granted.
Antwerp are entering the Champions League for the very first time this season, and they will be favourites to finish bottom. However, they will fancy their chances of giving a good account, and they will surely relish playing Barcelona.
If xavi can’t get this barca out of this group then for me he deserves to be sacked tbh.
Two league champions. Benfica won Liga Portugal in 22-23. Porto were second.
I seriously hope your joking here john lol,xavi is bye bye if he f##ks up this group believe me no amount of excuses will save him.
No joke, mate. Porto were second in Liga Portugal last year. Benfica won the title by two points.
I don’t think there’s any excuse for not winning the group overall, to be honest. It’s a great draw and we should come out of it easily.
Have to pass or sack
Sincerely anything less than 18 points from that group is a shame and not qualifing for the next round is a sack for xavi and his staff and also a wake-up call, as well as beginning of doom.