Barcelona get ‘favorable’ Champions League group

After a few seasons of being drawn in difficult Champions League groups — and crashing out in the group stage — Barcelona catch a little break this time around.

The Catalan side were drawn in Group H alongside Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk and Royal Antwerp.

This is one of the more ‘favorable’ draws for Barcelona in recent memory.

While they should make it out of the group stage with relatively few problems, anything can happen.

It was only two seasons ago where they were considered one of the two favorites to get out of their group only to be bested by a different Portuguese side in Benfica. That particular debacle was under Ronald Koeman.

What this group stage now means is there are no excuses for Barcelona and Xavi Hernandez.

Two seasons ago, the loss of Lionel Messi was still fresh so that could have been offered as a legitimate excuse as the club trying to find themselves in a Messi-less era with little firepower.

Last season, injuries to Ronald Araújo and Andreas Christensen at the most inopportune times played a factor. As did some refereeing decisions not going their way.

This time, there is no excuse to not, at the very least, advance to the knockout stage.

On paper, Barcelona should be able to overcome those three teams. The expectation is going to be for the Catalans to top their group. Given how things have gone the past two seasons, some may even be content, for lack of a better word, with simply making it out of the group phase regardless if it’s in first or second.

There are some interesting match-ups as well.

Former Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez will be facing his former team as the young midfielder joined Porto prior to the start of the season. Against Shakhtar, Barcelona will see a familiar face in Dmytro Chyhrynskyi. The Ukrainian center-back was one Pep Guardiola’s first signings following his initial treble winning season.

Even without Araújo and Pedri for the first fixture, Barcelona should have more than enough quality to get a positive result. Again, they couldn’t ask for a better group to finally advance to the Round of 16.

Xavi’s gotten almost everything he’s asked for since taking over. His side has performed more often than not in LaLiga. It’s time to take some of that success and translate it over in the Champions League.