How do FC Barcelona make it to the Champions League last 16?

FC Barcelona suffered a painful 1-0 defeat on Match Day three of the Champions League against Internazionale in Milan on Tuesday. Nevertheless, despite the reverse, Barça still are masters of their own destiny with regards to making it through to the knockout stages of this season's competition. 

Three big games to finish the group stage 

Xavi Hernández's team still have three games left in Group C to confirm their place in the last 16. The first comes against Inter Milan at Spotify Camp Nou, the second against a Bayern Munich side who boast a 100% record in the group after three matches and their final fixture is away in the Czech Republic against Viktoria Plzen. 

Should teams be level on points at the end of the group stage, the UEFA criteria for establishing the order in which the teams finish in the group first considers the results of the matches between the teams in question; then the goals difference in those matches, goals scored overall and goal scored away from home. If that is not enough to separate the sides then overall goal difference in the group is considered, goals scored and goals scored away in the group. 

The game at home against Inter vital 

Next Wednesday's game against Internazionale in the Spotify Camp Nou is vital. If Bayern can win the game that they have left, Barça can make it to the last 16 by beating Viktoria Plzen and defeating Inter at home by more than one goal difference. 

In contrast, if Xavi's squad win their two matches against Bayern and Viktoria Plzen but only draw against Inter at home, they would need Simone Inzaghi's team to fail to beat Viktoria and Bayern Munich in their two remaining games. Finally, if Barça were to lose at Spotify Camp Nou against Inter and Bayern pick up at least a point in the Czech Republic then they would be out of the running for a place in the last 16.