Barcelona will make their return to the Champions League for the 2026 season as they face a struggling Slavia Prague side on Wednesday night, with a strong need to secure three points to keep their hopes alive for the knockout stage.
Having had a disappointing start to their campaign, Barcelona faces the pressure of needing two wins from their last two league-phase matches to have a chance at advancing. They require a favorable combination of other results, or they risk not finishing in the top eight and facing the challenges of a playoff round.
After suffering a loss to Real Sociedad that ended their impressive run of 11 consecutive victories, the Catalans will be eager to rebound. Under the guidance of coach Hansi Flick, they are expected to capitalize on their opponents’ shortcomings, especially since Slavia Prague has struggled significantly in their group, currently sitting bottom with only three draws and three defeats, barely clinging to hopes of staying in the competition.
The Fortuna Arena in Prague is likely to be lively as the home crowd looks to inspire their team against a more favored Barcelona side. However, it’s crucial for Barcelona to remain focused and not underestimate their rivals, despite Slavia’s disappointing performances this season.
In terms of timing, the match is set to kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. GMT on January 21, 2026.
Historically, Barcelona has performed well against Slavia Prague, boasting one win and a draw from their previous encounters, with their last meeting resulting in a 0-0 stalemate in November 2019.
Slavia Prague has been inactive in official matches for over a month due to a winter break in the Czech league, although they have engaged in friendlies to maintain form. The team is mostly healthy, with only a few players recovering from injuries. Key attackers Tomáš Chorý and Lukáš Provod are anticipated to pose challenges for Barcelona’s defense as they look for their first win of this Champions League season.
Barcelona will be eager to return to winning ways, especially with Raphinha returning to their ranks to bolster their attacking options. However, they will have to cope without Lamine Yamal, who is suspended, putting additional pressure on Robert Lewandowski to find his form in the Champions League.
Given Slavia’s lack of competitive matches recently and Barcelona’s potent attack, predictions suggest Barcelona should comfortably handle the competition. The expected scoreline is 2-0 in favor of Barcelona.
The upcoming match presents an opportunity for Barcelona to regain confidence as they strive for a successful Champions League campaign, demonstrating their resilience in the face of adversity.