Barcelona defender Gerard Martin says the club’s aim this season is to win the Champions League.
Barcelona begin their campaign in the competition at home against Feyenoord on 9 September, with the opening match of the league phase scheduled to kick off at 19:45 Moscow time.
Martin’s assessment makes clear that Barcelona’s ambitions extend beyond simply progressing through the tournament. The Catalan club are targeting the trophy itself, seeking to return to the top of European football after a long wait since their last Champions League triumph.
The match against Feyenoord will be Barcelona’s first fixture in this season’s league phase. The opening home game gives the team an immediate opportunity to begin the competition positively, while also providing the first step in their pursuit of the title identified by Martin.
Barcelona last won the Champions League in 2015. They defeated Juventus 3-1 in the final to claim the trophy, with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar among the players representing the club at that time.
That victory remains Barcelona’s most recent success in the competition. Since then, the club have not added another Champions League title, meaning their stated objective this season would bring an end to a period without European glory.
The forthcoming meeting with Feyenoord is therefore the starting point for Barcelona’s latest attempt to win the tournament. The fixture will take place at Barcelona’s home ground, with the referee due to signal the beginning of the game at 19:45 Moscow time.
For Martin, the focus is firmly on competing for the biggest prize available in European club football. His comments underline the scale of Barcelona’s expectations before their first league-phase match and their desire to challenge for the same trophy they last lifted in the final against Juventus in 2015.