This is our year. Barcelona enter the 2025/26 Champions League as one of the clear favourites, building on last season’s impressive run to the semi-finals, where only Inter Milan stood in the way of a dream final.
Now the stage is set, and the draw has thrown up some of the blockbuster ties of the tournament. Barcelona will face Chelsea and defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in two of the group stage’s biggest heavyweight clashes. The so-called "super computer" couldn’t resist the drama, pairing Barça with both of last season’s Club World Cup finalists and the reigning European champions from pot one.
Stamford Bridge promises to be a real test. Chelsea’s young stars, Cole Palmer and Estevão, are the stars of their attack and billed as one of Europe’s most exciting, but Hansi Flick will be confident his side can expose their defensive frailties.
The return of Luis Enrique will be one of the highlights in the other blockbuster fixture as the holders come to the Catalan capital looking to continue that form that saw them excel throughout the knock out stages.
The full Champions League matchday schedule is still to be confirmed, with UEFA expected to finalise dates this weekend. That means it remains unclear whether Barcelona’s heavyweight clashes with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will headline the opening weeks of the competition or be saved for the high-stakes drama of December.
Away from those blockbuster ties, the rest of Barcelona’s group-stage schedule looks far more manageable. Drawn against Eintracht Frankfurt, Olympiakos, and Copenhagen, Flick’s side will feel confident of securing maximum points at home.
The draw also spared Barça the dreaded long-haul trips to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, or northern Norway, which can often disrupt rhythm and preparation. Instead, fans can look forward to more accessible away days against Club Brugge, Slavia Prague, and Newcastle United - all competitive fixtures, but ones that could play into Barcelona’s strengths.
Barcelona will rightly be confident of finishing among the top eight teams by the conclusion of the league stage, but given the strength and depth of today’s Champions League, nothing can be taken for granted. Hansi Flick will prepare with the same intensity as he does for La Liga, knowing that European glory in Budapest next May is the ultimate prize and the true measure of success this season.
All eyes will be on whether Barça can turn potential into dominance on the biggest stage, by showing flair and excitement.
The draw ceremony itself had its share of theatrics too, with the spotlight stolen by none other than Zlatan Ibrahimović. The former Barcelona and Milan star, never shy of the cameras, was honored with the UEFA President’s Award. True to form, Zlatan turned the stage into a spectacle of showmanship, showcasing his charisma, wit, and ego in equal measure. It was a reminder of just how much star power this tournament attracts, both past and present.