Barcelona manager Hansi Flick withdrew Pedri, Dani Olmo, Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha against Real Betis and saw his team lose two points in injury time. The German has shown the first signs of increased rotation this season after Lewandowski was rested against RCD Mallorca, and it is notable that this comes just before their trip to Borussia Dortmund.
According to Diario AS, Can Barca has an 'obsession' to finish in the top eight of the first phase of the Champions League. The club believes that finishing in the top quarter of teams and progressing to the Round of 16 is crucial as a matter of prestige, having struggled in Europe in recent years and as a result being left out of the Club World Cup was left out. .
Meanwhile, Flick is desperate for two more high-intensity games as he believes it is crucial to avoid the play-off round in a season that will test his side physically. The seeded teams will also play the second leg of the Round of 16 at home.
The club's accountants also want the Blaugrana to qualify directly through the top eight. If they can win their remaining three matches, Barcelona could earn €54.3 million from the league stage if they finish top. Just reaching the top eight would mean a minimum of €38 million. Qualification is probably possible with 15-17 points, leaving Barcelona 3-5 points short.
The Blaugrana play away to Dortmund on Wednesday before heading back to Benfica for a home match against Atalanta in January. Barcelona are currently third in the table with 12 points, with four wins out of five. Inter are one point ahead of them in second place, while Liverpool lead the league stage with 15 points and 5 wins from 5. Looking the other way, there are four teams between 9th and 12th who are just two points behind Barcelona, and outside the top eight, which shows how tight it is.
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