The scoreboard at Stamford Bridge read a harsh 3-0 on Tuesday night, a result that left Hansi Flick’s Barcelona licking their wounds.
The defeat has also compounded the Catalans’ Champions League campaign, leaving them with just 7 points out of a possible 15 after five matchdays.
To stand a chance of securing a direct spot in the top eight and avoid the treacherous playoff round, Barcelona must win their remaining three fixtures.
Barcelona following PSG blueprint
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are not going into panic mode just yet despite their embarrassing loss to Chelsea.
The Blaugrana, in fact, are taking inspiration from Luis Enrique’s PSG team last season and seek to emulate their campaign this season.
Last season, the French giants were in an even deeper hole at this exact stage. After five games, PSG had managed a meagre four points, notably losing to Arsenal, Atletico, and Bayern while drawing with PSV. They were completely written off.
However, what followed was nothing short of extraordinary. PSG rallied to win their final three group games, including a massive 4-2 victory over Manchester City, to reach 13 points.
That momentum carried them all the way to the trophy, dispatching Liverpool, Aston Villa, Arsenal, and eventually thrashing Inter Milan in the final.
Barcelona’s current tally of seven points from five games is actually superior to PSG’s position last year. And the club’s goal is simple – to mirror the current European champions’ performance last season.
It must be noted that the Catalans have a far more forgiving schedule as well, with games against Eintracht Frankfurt, Copenhagen and Slavia Prague, two of which will be held at home.
Hence, Hansi Flick’s men have every chance of mirroring PSG’s feat from last season.
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