Preview

October 25, Barcelona, Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, 19:45
Live broadcast will be available on Megogo

History and path to the UCL

Barcelona, founded in 1899, is the most successful club in Spain and one of the most successful in the world. The team won 99 trophies including 5 victories in the UEFA Champions League (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015), 27 Spanish League titles, a record 31 Spanish Cups and 14 Spanish Super Cups throughout their history.

In the previous 2022/23 season, the Catalans sensationally did not advance from the Champions League group, taking third spot in the quartet with Bayern, Inter and Viktoria Plzen, and got eliminated from the very first round of the UEFA Europa League play-offs, losing to Manchester United in the last 32 (2-2, 1-2). However, Barca made amends in the domestic arena, winning the Spanish Super Cup in January and their first La Liga title in 4 seasons in May.

Squad and leaders

The club legend Xavier Hernandez has been Barcelona’s head coach since November 2021. As a footballer, he spent 18 seasons with the Catalans and made 767 appearances, as a coach he won 2 trophies with the team. Regarding the line-up of the Blaugrana, it should be noted a large number of injured: the leader of the attack Robert Lewandowski (6 goals and 4 assists this season), the leading midfielders Frankie de Jong and Pedri, the main defenders Jules Kounde and Sergi Roberto, as well as winger Raphinha, will not play in the match against Shakhtar. Gavi will miss the game as well due to disqualification. So, currently, the main attacking force is Ferran Torres (4 goals) and Joao Felix (3 goals and 4 assists).

Start of the 2023/24 season

Barcelona have played 12 matches and have not yet suffered a single defeat in the new season. In the Spanish league, Xavi's side claimed 7 wins with 3 draws and 24 points (goal difference: 22-10), are third in the table only one point behind Real Madrid and Girona. The Catalans beat Athletic (1:0) at home in a difficult match of the last round thanks to the goal from 17-year-old Marc Guiu, who made his debut for the senior team. In the Champions League, Barca started with a confident victory over Antwerp (5-0), beating Porto away (1-0) in the second round and topping Group H with 6 points.

Stadium and referees

Barcelona are carrying out renovation at their legendary Camp Nou, so this season they host their opponents at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys with capacity of 54,367. The match will be officiated by the judging panel headed by Ivan Kruzliak (SVK).

Match background

Shakhtar and Barcelona played 9 competitive matches: 2 wins of the Miners, 1 draw, with the Catalans proving stronger 6 times (total goal difference: 8-18). The clubs locked horns for the first time in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup when Barcelona won both at home (3-0) and away (1-0). In more recent history, the teams exchanged home wins in the 2004/05 Champions League group stage (3-0 in Barcelona and 2-0 in Donetsk), then played in the 2008/09 season and this time beat each other away (1-2 in Donetsk and 2-3 in Spain). In August 2009, the opponents met in the European Super Cup match, where the Catalans triumphed in extra time (1-0). And the last meeting took place in the 2010/11 Champions League quarter-finals when the unstoppable Barcelona of Guardiola and Messi was stronger on aggregate (6-1) and eventually won the tournament.