Xabi Alonso poses potential setback for Barcelona's UCL hopes
Just a few La Liga games remain this season, and Barcelona are qualified for the UEFA Champions League for 2024-25. Even though Real Madrid came out on top in the championship battle, the Blaugrana are still fighting for second place.
With Xavi Hernandez’s choice to remain, going forward, Barcelona’s plans will be more stable. They have already secured a berth in Europe’s top tournament, but their seeding has not been finalized.
With the Champions League reverting to a league system for the next season, the Catalans are in Pot 1 of the draw.
The winners of the top European leagues used to occupy Pot 1 in the draw. UEFA would also pair them with the Champions League and Europa League winners.
But starting with the 2024-25 season, a whole new method of seeding will be in place. Next campaign, each of the 36 clubs will play in one of four groups determined by their cumulative UEFA coefficient from the previous five seasons.
This means that eight clubs have already guaranteed themselves a spot in Pot 1. Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Liverpool, Inter, Leipzig, and Borussia Dortmund are among the formidable clubs on the list.
Barcelona hold out hope
The last few European matches of the season will determine the season-ending pots, and Xabi Alonso‘s Bayer Leverkusen will play a significant part.
Leverkusen are now riding high after Alonso guided them to their first-ever Bundesliga championship.
What’s more, the new German champions are now cruising toward a UEFA Europa League final appearance. Herein lies the possible danger to Barcelona’s standing; the UEFA coefficient will decide their seeding status starting from the next season.
At 88,000 points, Bayer Leverkusen’s coefficient is great, but it’s dangerously close to Barcelona’s 91,000 points. They are now within striking distance of the final after beating Roma 2-0 in the first leg. Furthermore, if the Werkself win the second leg as well, they will tie Barcelona for the most UEFA coefficient points ever.
With a victory in the end or a tie in the first half, they would surpass La Blaugrana. Plus, as the Bundesliga winners, UEFA may give Bayer Leverkusen the nod in case of a draw. Should either be the case, when August’s draw rolls around, Xavi’s squad will be in Pot 2.
Roma to ruin party?
One more unanticipated turn of events, however, might make things much more complicated. Both Barcelona and Leverkusen may end up outside of Pot 1 if Roma somehow beats Leverkusen despite being down 2-0.
With a current UEFA coefficient of 100,000, Roma are strong candidates for Pot 1, thanks to their titles in the 2021-22 Conference League and their participation in the Europa League. Assuming they maintain their present position in the Serie A standings, they will be assured a berth in the 2024-25 Champions League.
In contrast, if they win the Europa League, they will automatically be eligible to play in the Champions League.
Photo credit: IMAGO / Giuseppe Maffia