An insight into the likely reaction of the powers that be at Barcelona to the latest defeat handed down to La Liga rivals Atlético Madrid on Tuesday night has been provided.
Diego Simeone’s troops were of course back in action a short time ago, making the trip to Italy for the first leg of the club’s Champions League Last-16 showdown with Serie A table-toppers Inter Milan.
When all was said and done at San Siro, it was the evening’s hosts who emerged deserved victors, owing to a solitary 2nd-half goal on the part of Marko Arnautovic.
As much means that Atlético now face an uphill battle in efforts to book their spot in the next round of Europe’s elite club competition.
And one outfit who will no doubt be celebrating as much, as alluded to above, come in the form of Barcelona.
This comes owing to the slender hopes of the Blaugrana of booking their spot in next year’s inaugural Club World Cup.
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 could be filled by any of the trio of Atlético, Real Sociedad, or Barcelona.
Sociedad can be all but counted out, with Imanol’s troops requiring triumph in this season’s edition of the Champions League to qualify.
Atléti, on the other hand, are the clear frontrunners as things stand.
The Rojiblancos boast 62 ‘points’, seven more than Barcelona with 55.
Tonight’s result in Milan afforded the latter something of a boost, in ensuring that Diego Simeone and co. did not pull ever further away from them in the CWC qualification race.
Barca, though, will be aware that they need to put Napoli to the sword in both legs of their upcoming tie with the Italian champions, whilst at the same time hoping for Atlético to fall to a return leg defeat to Inter.
As much would see Xavi and co. close to within two points of their La Liga rivals, which could in turn be made up courtesy of either one win, or two draws in the Champions League’s quarter-finals.
Sporting reasons aside, heading to the Club World Cup would provide Barcelona with a much-needed financial boost, too, with participants, according to Diario Sport, entitled to a €50 million cash payment.
The competition’s winners, meanwhile, will be rewarded with a full €100 million.
Conor Laird | GSFN
