UEFA Champions League: Royal Antwerp vs Barcelona Live
Preview
Barcelona, the current leaders of Group H in the Champions League, are set to visit Royal Antwerp’s Bosuilstadion on Wednesday. They only need to avoid losing in order to progress to the last 16 as group winners. On the other hand, Royal Antwerp, who have not earned any points in their five previous European matches, are playing for a small sense of pride in the final matchday.
Royal Antwerp’s debut in the Champions League has been a disappointing and challenging experience, as they have suffered defeats to Barcelona, Porto, and Shakhtar Donetsk. They have not been able to secure a spot in the Europa League either, and their performance in the Champions League has been marked by conceding 15 goals and failing to earn a single point. Despite their struggles in the Champions League, they have been performing well domestically, winning their third consecutive match in the Jupiler Pro League and Belgian Cup. However, they still remain 11 points behind the league leaders, Union SG.
To prevent Barcelona from securing the top spot in Group H, Antwerp needs to achieve a significant milestone by earning their first point or points in the Champions League. Even a surprising win on their home turf may not be enough to dethrone Barcelona. Barcelona’s recent win against Porto secured their place in the knockout rounds, giving them a three-point lead over Porto and Shakhtar.
While there is a slim chance that Barcelona could be overtaken by Shakhtar if they lose to Antwerp and there is a significant goal difference, this scenario is unlikely. However, Girona’s recent 4-2 victory over Barcelona shows that unexpected outcomes can occur in football, as they opened up a seven-point lead over Barcelona in the league standings.
Head-to-head
Barcelona have positive recollections of their September match against Antwerp, where they defeated the Belgian team 5-0 at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. However, their previous trip to the Reds’ home in 1965 resulted in a 2-1 defeat.
Prediction
Some Barcelona fans expect their match against Antwerp is expected to be an easy win. Despite a few lineup changes, their victory may not be as dominant as their previous five-goal win, but with the motivation to bounce back from their recent disappointing result, Xavi’s team should secure first place in a stylish manner.
