With the 2024-2025 season underway for Barcelona, we take a look at the highlights of the fixture list to come over the rest of the season. The Spaniards are one of the favourites to lift the Liga trophy at the end of the campaign, and might even consider themselves in with a chance of European glory. We take a look at the key matches to come.
Key Highlights and Marquee Matches
For Barcelona, all eyes immediately turn to the showdowns with their great rivals, Real Madrid. They play at least twice a season, but when both sides are at the top of their powers, they have duelled in the Copa del Rey and Champions League to provide further classic encounters.
This season, they are set to play Real on October 27 away from home, and on May 11 in what could be a massive title decider at the Camp Nou.
There are also key fixtures against local rivals Girona, and another Madrid side in the form of Atletico Madrid. They play Girona once more this season in La Liga, on March 30. Their games against Atletico will be on December 22 at the Camp Nou and March 16 in Madrid
In the Champions League, their toughest matches on paper look likely to be against Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.
La Liga Campaign
With new manager Hansi Flick in charge, the team have done an outstanding job in managing their domestic obligations and started with five wins from five, despite key injuries to players such as Gavi.
They also scored an early 4-1 victory in Girona against their local competition, and the return fixture takes place on March 30.
Their nemesis, Real Madrid, are looming large as Kylian Mbappe settles in, and they play them on October 27 and May 11 at the Bernabeu and Camp Nou, respectively.
Diego Simeone’s side Atletico Madrid have also recruited strongly, bringing in Julian Alvarez from Manchester City and Conor Gallagher from Chelsea. Atletico and Barca play on December 22 with Barca at home, and March 16 in Madrid.
If Barcelona are to emerge triumphant once more, they can barely afford to suffer defeats in any of these matches, and victories will go a long way to keeping them in the title race.
Home Matches
The most significant home fixtures for Flick’s men are against the top rivals for the league title. The question for Flick is whether he plays to his side’s attacking strengths, making the most of Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo.
Home fixtures for Barcelona must almost always deliver three points if the club are to regain the Liga title, so for the club a more attacking approach might be employed, with Flick’s tactics seemingly based on a more direct approach than previous manager, Xavi Hernandez.
In the Champions League, things may differ if the club are assured of progressing to the next round, and they may choose to rest their star players after already suffering injury problems.
If the matches go well then the famous Barcelona crowd at the Camp Nou might provide the chance to be the 12th man, but after a few years of frustration they might be quick to turn on players and the manager if poor performances rear their head.
- Aug 24: Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao
- Aug 31: Barcelona v Valladolid
- Sep 25: Barcelona v Getafe
- Oct 20: Barcelona v Sevilla
- Nov 3: Barcelona v Espanyol
- Dec 1: Barcelona v Las Palmas
- Dec 15: Barcelona v Leganes
- Dec 22: Barcelona v Atletico Madrid
- Jan 26: Barcelona v Valencia
- Feb 2: Barcelona v Alaves
- Feb 9: Barcelona Rayo Vallecano
- Mar 2: Barcelona v Real Sociedad
- Mar 9: Barcelona v Osasuna
- Mar 30: Barcelona v Girona
- Apr 6: Barcelona v Real Betis
- Apr 20: Barcelona v Celta Vigo
- Apr 23: Barcelona v Real Mallorca
- May 11: Barcelona v Real Madrid
Away Fixtures
Clearly, the Civitas Metropolitano of Atletico and Bernabeu of Real Madrid could produce some cauldron-like atmospheres, and the players will need to show all their courage and determination to come away with a morale-boosting victory at both grounds.
For Flick, Robert Lewandowski’s ability to score important goals, coupled with the verve and inventiveness of Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal will be essential on the counterattack. The defenders such as Eric Garcia will need to be sturdy at the back to absorb the pressure from any confident home teams.
- Aug 17: Valencia v Barcelona
- Aug 27: Rayo Vallecano v Barcelona
- Sep 15: Girona v Barcelona
- Sep 22: Villarreal v Barcelona
- Sep 28: Osasuna v Barcelona
- Oct 6: Alaves v Barcelona
- Oct 27: Real Madrid v Barcelona
- Nov 10: Real Sociedad v Barcelona
- Nov 24: Celta Vigo v Barcelona
- Dec 8: Real Betis v Barcelona
- Jan 8: Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (Spanish Super Cup)
- Jan 11: Real Mallorca v Barcelona
- Jan 19: Getafe v Barcelona
- Feb 23: Las Palmas v Barcelona
- Mar 16: Atletico Madrid v Barcelona
- Apr 13: Leganes v Barcelona
- May 4: Real Valladolid v Barcelona
- May 14: Espanyol v Barcelona
- May 25: Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona
FC Barcelona UEFA Champions League Schedule
For Barcelona, they sit a little outside the pre-eminent sides this season. Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City will all fancy their chances, but sides such as Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid and indeed Barcelona all have a credible shot at glory. A victory in Europe would be a huge surprise to fans and neutral observers, but it is far from impossible.
On October 23, they face Bayern Munich at home, and travel to another German side, Borussia Dortmund, in December.
Group Stage Matches
Against teams such as Young Boys, Crvena Zvezda and Brest, Barcelona should have enough talent to get a win even if they underperform.
However, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Atalanta and Benfica are all potentially tricky ties. Depending on how the league format progresses over the coming months, Flick may aim to secure a point without risking too much against Bayern and Dortmund, and look to pick up maximum points elsewhere.
- Sep 19: Monaco v Barcelona
- Oct 1: Barcelona v Young Boys
- Oct 23: Barcelona v Bayern Munich
- Nov 6: Crvena Zvezda v Barcelona
- Nov 26: Barcelona v Brest
- Dec 11: Borussia Dortmund v Barcelona
- Jan 21: Benfica v Barcelona
- Jan 29: Barcelona v Atalanta
