For the first time since 2004
The last time a coach from FC Barcelona gave a press conference on a Wednesday in the run-up to a European Cup game was around 18 years ago. Because on Wednesday it’s not about the “premier class”, but about the Europa League. “It’s not the Champions League, that’s clear, but it’s our reality now,” Barça Xavi said (quoted via L’Equipe).
Since the opponents in the knockout stage playoffs are SSC Napoli, it feels a bit like Champions League after all. In the first round of the round of 16, the most valuable team with 651 million euros meets the third most valuable squad in the Europa League with 507 million euros – in the “premier class” this squad value is only exceeded in four out of eight pairings.
Squad value from 651 to 20m: Europa League knockout round teams
1 FC Barcelona | Squad value: €651m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
As of February 16, 2022
2 Borussia Dortmund | Squad value: €576m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
3 SSC Napoli | Squad value: €506m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
4 RB Leipzig | Squad value: €454m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
5 Sevilla FC | Squad value: €425m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
6 Bayer Leverkusen | Squad value: €417m
© imago images
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
7 Real Sociedad | Squad value: €395m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
8 Atalanta BC | Squad value: €380m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
9 AS Monaco | Squad value: €352m
© imago images
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
10 West Ham United | Squad value: €351m
© imago images
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
11 Olympique Lyon | Squad value: €324m
© imago images
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
12 Lazio Rome | Squad value: €267m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
13 Real Betis | Squad value: €230m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
14 FC Porto | Squad value: €225m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
15 Eintracht Frankfurt | Squad value: €200m
© imago images
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
16 Zenith St. Petersburg | Squad value: €170m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
17 Glasgow Rangers | Squad value: €132m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
18 Olympiacos Piraeus | Squad value: €118m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
19 Spartak Moscow | Squad value: €117m
© championship.com
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
20 Galatasaray | Squad value: €106m
© DHA
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
21 SC Braga | Squad value: €104m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
22 Dinamo Zagreb | Squad value: €101m
© imago images
As group runners-up in the intermediate round
23 Red Star Belgrade | Squad value: €51m
© imago images
As a group winner directly in the round of 16
24 Sheriff Tiraspol | Squad value: €20m
© imago images
Relegated from the Champions League
Xavi says: “I’m very motivated and so are the players. (…) There are big teams like Sevilla, Villarreal, Naples … against Naples it will be a match at Champions League level.
In the Catalans’ last appearance to date in the Europa League, which was still called the UEFA Cup in 2004, FC Barcelona lost out to Celtic Glasgow (0:1 & 0:0). In both games, Xavi started alongside Carles Puyol and Ronaldinho: “I know it was very difficult. We weren’t victorious and it’s the title Barça have never won in their history.” The only clubs to have won all three European cup competitions are Ajax Amsterdam, FC Bayern, Juventus, Chelsea and Manchester United. In addition to the Champions League and the Europa League, the European Cup Winners’ Cup was also held until 1999.
For Barça, the Europa League is not just about completing the trophy collection, but about qualifying for the Champions League. “There are two ways to get there: either via LaLiga or the Europa League and we will take our chance,” said Xavi confidently. In the Spanish league (to the LaLiga table) there is a close race for fourth place, similar to the Bundesliga: fifth-placed Atlético Madrid (39 points) separate three points from seventh-placed FC Villarreal (36) – FC Barcelona (39) is on four and Real Sociedad (38) on six.
Dzeko, Dabbur & Co.: Active players with the most goals in the Europa League
13 Edinson Cavani | 2 Clubs | 18 goals
© imago images
Data current as of February 16, 2022
13 Guillaume Hoarau | 2 Clubs | 18 goals
© imago images
12 Bruno Fernandes | 2 Clubs | 19 goals
© imago images
11 – Romelu Lukaku | 3 Clubs | 20 goals
© imago images
7 – Pierre Emerick Aubameyang | 2 Clubs | 22 goals
© imago images
7 – Alexandre Lacazette | 2 Clubs | 22 goals
© imago images
7 – Jermain Defoe | 2 Clubs | 22 goals
© TM/imago images
7 – Oscar Cardozo | 2 Clubs | 22 goals
© imago images
5 – Vagner Love | 2 Clubs | 23 goals
© imago images
5 – Carlos Bacca | 3 Clubs | 23 goals
© imago images
4 – Munas Dabbur | 4 Clubs | 24 goals
© imago images
3 – Edin Dzeko | 3 Clubs | 25 goals
© TM/imago images
2 – Kevin Gameiro | 5 Clubs | 26 goals
© imago images
To home page
ttn-38