Nobody has given Raphinha anything. The Brazilian, who returns to Stamford Bridge today (9 pm, Movistar), has had to work incredibly hard to become one of the icons of a Barça side dreaming of the Champions League. To achieve this, they need to secure three points in a difficult match, but one that holds fond memories for Barça fans. The draw away to Club Brugge leaves the Blaugrana with little room for error if they want to finish in the top eight of the group stage. Hansi Flick welcomes back the winger, a top-five finisher in the last Ballon d'Or and top scorer (13 goals) and assist provider (8) in the last Champions League.

Barça is no longer the Champions League's hottest team. There's no trace left in Europe of the side that dazzled last season, brave and daring under Hansi Flick. After the defeat against PSG and the draw with Club Brugge, the team was severely punished at Stamford Bridge (3-0). Ronald Araujo's sending-off in the first half deflated a Barça side that never posed a real threat to a Chelsea team that was always superior, played at a different pace, and reminded Barça that the Champions League can be the most beautiful competition in the world, but also the most painful.

Since the spring of 2022, following Roman Abramovich's forced departure from Chelsea precipitated by the invasion of UkraineThe club's new owners, the BlueCo consortium, made up of four American investors and one Swiss investor, have pushed the blues to lead a revolution that was more economic than footballing, despite the complete overhaul of the squad and the passage of six coaches – two of them interim – including the current one, Enzo Maresca.

Andreas Christensen has become Hansi Flick's alternative, as he doesn't have to move Pau Cubarsí to the left. The Danish player, who started in the last La Liga match in Vallecas alongside Eric Garcia, can play on the left wing and to fill the gap left by Iñigo Martínez without having to make any other changes to the Barça defensive line.Despite his contract expiring next June, there are still no talks about renewing Christensen's contract, and he will have to earn his place at Barça with strong performances on the pitch.

Ewa Pajor, Irene Paredes, and Claudia Pina, with a brace, reminded Chelsea that the Blaugrana are the queens of Europe. In a duel that intensified in the final minutes, Barça took a wonderful three-goal lead (4-1) to seal their qualification for the Champions League final at Stamford Bridge in a week's time. The second-half entry of Pina—the competition's top scorer—was key to catalyzing the rout.