An insight into the updated requirements laid out for Barcelona in their quest to beat La Liga rivals Atlético Madrid to a spot at the upcoming Club World Cup has today been provided.
The first-ever edition of the newly-formatted Club World Cup is set to play out in the summer of 2025 in the United States.
Of the 32 clubs set to battle it out for glory, two will come from La Liga, with Real Madrid having already secured their spot.
This leaves one remaining position, which will be filled by either Atlético, or Barcelona.
It is the former who currently boast the advantage, owing to their superior ‘points’ record on the continent – 62 to 59.
Barca, though, did their part to keep alive hopes of leapfrogging Diego Simeone’s men, in putting Napoli to the sword to book a spot in the Champions League’s quarter-finals on Tuesday night.
So, what exactly is required of the Catalans, from here, to add their name to the list of clubs headed to the maiden CWC?
As per a report from Diario Sport, first on the agenda will be Atlético being sent packing from the Champions League by Inter Milan later tonight.
In the case of the Rojiblancos – currently trailing by a goal to nil after the first leg at San Siro – missing out on a spot in the quarter-finals by way of defeat on Wednesday, Barcelona would require at least one win in their own last eight tie to be sure of qualification. As much would have to be accompanied by the Blaugrana advancing to the semi-finals on aggregate, though.
Should Atléti, on the other hand, manage a draw tonight, Xavi’s men will need to piece together a win and a draw on their way to the Champions League’s last four.
In the case of a tiebreak between Barca and Atlético, meanwhile, the former would advance, ‘for having achieved the best individual result obtained during the qualification period (from 20/21 to 23/24), which is reaching the semifinals’.
With a hefty €50 million payout on the line, it is safe to say that all associated with Barcelona will no doubt have one eye firmly fixed on developments at the Wanda Metropolitano later this evening…
Conor Laird | GSFN
