Barcelona begin their Champions League league-phase campaign on Wednesday against Feyenoord with hopes of making a powerful start to their bid for a first European title since 2015. The Dutch club, European champions in 1970, arrive in Catalonia determined to challenge the established order.
Hansi Flick’s side have made an ideal start to the 2026-27 season, winning all four of their La Liga matches against Elche, Athletic Bilbao, Rayo Vallecano and Valencia. Those victories have brought 17 goals and placed Barcelona alone at the top of the Spanish league.
Domestic success remains a major target for Flick and his players, but the Champions League is the club’s overriding ambition. Barcelona have not lifted the trophy since claiming their fifth European crown in 2015.
They were knocked out by Atletico de Madrid in last season’s quarter-finals, having reached the semi-finals in 2024-25. Their attacking strength is clear, but Barcelona must show that their defence has improved sufficiently if they are to go all the way this time.
The two clubs have met only twice previously. Those encounters came in the last 16 of the 1974-75 competition, when Barcelona progressed comfortably with a 3-0 aggregate victory.
Feyenoord, however, are not travelling to Spain simply to make up the numbers. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s team finished second in the Eredivisie last spring and have started this campaign unbeaten in five competitive matches, winning three of them. Their latest result was an impressive 3-1 victory over NEC Nijmegen.
Including friendlies, the Rotterdam club have not lost in any competition since the beginning of March. Feyenoord’s recent form is listed as wins, draws, wins, draws and wins, while Barcelona have won their past four matches.
Their European history includes a 2-1 victory over Celtic in the 1970 final, with Ove Kindvall and Dick Geels combining for 13 goals during that campaign. Feyenoord are hoping to restore their reputation on the continent after missing out on the Europa League knockout stage last season and losing in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.
This will be their first appearance in Europe’s premier competition since reaching the last 16 in 2024-25, when they suffered a 4-1 aggregate defeat by Inter Milan.
Barcelona have several selection issues to resolve. Frenkie de Jong and Roony Bardghji are unavailable with knee injuries, while Eric Garcia is suspended. Summer signing Jesse Bisiwu has returned to training after a contusion but remains a major doubt.
Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Karim Adeyemi could all begin on the substitutes’ bench despite the team’s strong form. Eric Garcia’s absence is expected to allow Jules Kounde to operate at right-back, with Lamine Yamal, Anthony Gordon and Fermin Lopez likely to support Raphinha in attack.
Feyenoord’s injury list is longer. Thomas Beelen has a broken leg, while Bart Nieuwkoop, Gijs Smal, Jakub Moder and Jordan Bos are also ruled out with ankle or knee problems.
They can nevertheless call on the outstanding early-season form of Gjivai Zechiel, who has scored four goals and supplied three assists in five appearances from midfield. Luciano Valente has scored three times in five matches and is expected to feature, with Nacho Ferri leading the attack. Shaqueel van Persie, son of former Netherlands and Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie, is expected to start among the substitutes.
Probable teams
Barcelona: J. Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, Christensen, Espart; Rodri, Pedri; Yamal, Fermin, Gordon; Raphinha.
Feyenoord: Ernst; Read, Juste, Watanabe, Marmol; Vanhoutte, Zechiel, Targhalline; Valente, Ferri, Diarra.
Feyenoord’s impressive domestic start suggests they have enough quality to trouble Barcelona during periods of the match. However, the hosts’ greater attacking power and creativity in the final third are expected to decide the contest.
The prediction is for an entertaining game containing several goals, with Barcelona securing a 3-1 victory. The exact-score selection of 3-1 for Barcelona against Feyenoord is available at odds of 9.50 with Betclic. Other listed selections include Barcelona to win with both teams scoring at 2.00, more than 3.5 goals at 1.40, and Raphinha to score at 1.50.