Three in a row at Spotify Camp Nou

It's been a tough week. The 3-2 draw with Inter Milan leaves FC Barcelona on the verge of Champions League elimination, while 3-1 defeat in El Clásico means Real Madrid have moved three points clear at the top of the Liga table. Positive results are urgently required, and three games back-to-back at Spotify Camp Nou offer the perfect opportunity to get them.

Villarreal and Athletic Club in La Liga

The first of the three is a midweek league clash against Villarreal this Thursday at 9pm CEST. Despite a very strong start from last season's Champions League semi-finalists, the good results have dropped off of late and they are without a win in four games. It seems like a good time to take on Unai Emery's side.

Just three days later, on Sunday and again at 9pm CEST, the Spotify Camp Nou will again be the stage for a Liga fixture, this time against Athletic Club. Managed by former Barça coach Ernesto Valverde, the Basques have been one of the most impressive teams in La Liga 2022/23. Although last weekend's defeat at home to Atlético Madrid has hurt them, they are still unbeaten on the road..

Bayern in the Champions League

Then there are just another three days before the Spotify Camp Nou opens its doors once again, and for yet another 9pm CEST start, but this time for a European fixture against Bayern Munich. Of course, the circumstances of that game depend entirely on what has happened earlier in the evening, when Inter Milan take on Viktoria Plzen. If the Italians have won that game, then Barça will already be out of contention for a last sixteen place. But if the Czechs can do the Catalans a favour, then everything changes. But it will be for nothing if Barça don't go on to beat the Germans.

After three games in a row on home turf, it will then be times for Barça to pack their bags again, this time for a journey to Mestalla, home of Valencia, on Saturday 29.