The overwhelming defeat against Paris Saint-Germain at the Camp Nou in the first leg of the knockout stages of the Champions League by 1-4 it leaves Barcelona on the brink of European elimination and proposes a restructuring of priorities in the immediate objectives of the Blaugrana club. The Champions League is considered lost as it cannot be otherwise and now the second leg of the semifinals of Cup against Sevilla as the highest priority.
The Paris match on March 10 is shelved with the sole objective of achieving a worthy exit from Europe. Outside of doors, nobody is going to publicly give up the tie, but in the Blaugrana dressing room they are perfectly aware that the task is impossible.
So then, the idea of the coaching staff led by Ronald Koeman is to morally rearm a team that came out very touched by the defeat of the Camp Nou. Regain sensations in LaLiga and try to get to the best possible match on March 3 at the Camp Nou against Sevilla in which a place will be played for the Cup final. To achieve this ticket that could make up the season and give the only joy to the Blaugrana fans in a very tough year the cule team should come back 2-0. It is considered difficult, but not impossible. In the dressing room they were convinced, at least before the blow suffered by Mbappé and company that they could lift the semifinal.
Before reaching that game, which may be the most decisive of the season for Barça, the Catalan team has three league games.
On Sunday he receives Cádiz in what should be the first step to measure the recovery of the group, during the week, on Wednesday 24, Barça recovers against Elche also at the Camp Nou the match of the first day of the League which was postponed in its day because both teams extended the previous season. Elche was in August playing their promotion to LaLiga Santander against Girona and Barça was penalizing in Lisbon against Bayern in the final phase of the Champions League.
Chance has determined that four days before seeing each other in search of a place in the Cup final, Seville and Barcelona meet in a league match. A duel in which it will be a challenge for both coaches in terms of managing their respective squads.
On the Barcelona side, the idea is not to burn players so that they can reach this match against Lopetegui's team in the best possible way. For now, Piqué has already played his first minutes after his injury and it is most likely that he will continue to appear in the team with the aim of taking shape. Along with Piqué's return, Araújo's recovery is the other great priority for Koeman and a team that has turned the second leg against Sevilla into the great event of the season.