The UEFA Champions League is down to eight teams, and according to some predictions, Barcelona sit in that middle ground. Close enough to dream big, but a small mistake could undo them. One thing that has helped them, at least in the minds of pundits, is the draw. It’s Atlético Madrid again, which won’t be easy given the Copa del Rey elimination, but the experts tip it toward Barça this time.
Projections have them moving on, and some even see them reaching the final. Of course, nothing is settled
on paper.
Movistar+ pundit Julio Maldonado has been blunt about it. “I would see Barça as a finalist,” he said, but then added a warning that almost anyone would echo. “Barça has to improve defensively.”
Watching them, it’s easy to understand why. In attack, they can explode in a few minutes. Lamine Yamal finds pockets to play passes, Raphinha drifts into space, Pedri pulls strings in tight moments, Robert Lewandowski finishes. But the knockout rounds don’t forgive lapses, and Barcelona still has too many of those.
Hansi Flick is trying to adjust to the situation. Maldonado highlighted that too. “If Barça can win this Champions League it’s because Flick takes slightly fewer risks and has a lot of talent up front.”
The other side of the bracket is the tough one, according to most. Bayern Munich keeps appearing as the benchmark. “Bayern is a goal-scoring machine and I maintain they are the main favorite,” Maldonado said.
A potential semifinal opponent for Barcelona is Arsenal, who are perhaps a bit of a wild card. Their form has dipped since the start of the season, but they are still a highly dangerous team.
“I see Arsenal worse than at the start of the season… but I’ll give them quite a lot of chances,” Maldonado said.
Looking at the rest of the picture, PSG are trending upward again. The Chelsea win turned heads, and the return of key players makes them more dangerous. “They’re improving… not the top favorite, but I give them quite a lot of chances,” was Maldonado’s opinion.
Liverpool are not considered favorites but they are in the mix, too. You can’t predict knockout tournaments.
One team you definitely can never rule out is Real Madrid. But they have a potential roadblock up ahead. It’s that classic tie, Bayern versus Real Madrid. Maldonado doesn’t mince words. “I think Madrid will be eliminated, I hope I’m wrong.”
