Barça de Xavi is in the midst of a renaissance, but an elimination from the European Cups would stain this recovery.
The second half of the first leg, promising, and the brilliant victory that followed in La Liga against Valencia on Sunday (4-1) are all grounds for hope for the young Pedri and his partners.
"It will be another final. We have to continue. We are not in a good situation, it is our reality. But there is a good dynamic, I see it. We just have to be more reliable, more consistent, and above all, knowing how to defend with the ball", analyzed Xavi this weekend.
On the Neapolitan side, the Serie A day interspersed between the two European games was not as reassuring, with a draw at the relegated Cagliari, snatched in pain by striker Victor Osimhen (1-1).
This shock of the C3 play-offs will leave a big European club on the floor no matter what, just before the round of 16, the draw of which is scheduled for Friday.
Another prestigious team in difficulty, Borussia Dortmund go to Scotland two goals behind, after the debacle conceded at home 4-2 last Thursday, a humiliation however less problematic since the abolition of the away goal rule in European Cups.
Dortmund's Norwegian striker Erling Haaland in the Bundesliga on the lawn of TSG Hoffenheim on January 22, 2022 in Sinsheim Daniel ROLAND AFP / Archives
The partners of Erling Haaland, who returned to training after a muscle injury and hopes to be fit Thursday, raised their heads in the Bundesliga, offering themselves a festival against Mönchengladbach on Sunday (6-0).
But the European reveal is likely to weigh heavily in the future of coach Marco Rose.
Another clash of these dams resembling the round of 16 pits Lazio against FC Porto in Rome (6:45 p.m.).
The Portuguese took the lead at home (2-1), like Atalanta Bergamo ahead of Olympiakos.
RB Leipzig, semi-finalists of the Champions League in 2020, for its part has a complicated trip to San Sebastian to face the Basques of Real Sociedad, who hooked it 2-2 in the first leg.
Among La Liga sides, Sevilla FC and Betis Sevilla are both in good shape after first-leg success and Spain could potentially have four representatives in the Europa League Round of 16.
The return play-offs of the Europa League Conference take place in parallel with Marseille's trip to Qarabag after their first leg victory (3-1).
Leicester is also in a good position (4-1) before going to Denmark to face Randers.
Europa League return play-off schedule:
Thusday
(6:45 p.m.) Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) - Sevilla FC (ESP) (3 - 1 first leg)
Olympiakos (GRE) - Atalanta Bergamo (ITA) (1 - 2)
Real Sociedad (ESP) - RB Leipzig (GER) (2 - 2)
Lazio Roma (ITA) - Porto (POR) (1 - 2)
(21h00) Napoli (ITA) - FC Barcelona (ESP) (1 - 1)
Betis Sevilla (ESP) - Zenit Saint Petersburg (RUS) (3 - 2)
Glasgow Rangers (SCO) - Dortmund (GER) (4 - 2)
Sporting Braga (POR) - FC Sheriff (MDA) (0 - 2)
Europa League Conference return play-off program:
Thusday
(6:45 p.m.) Qarabag (AZE) - Marseille (FRA) (1 - 3 one way)
Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) - PSV Eindhoven (NED) (0 - 1)
Randers (DEN) - Leicester (ENG) (1 - 4)
Bodoe/Glimt (NOR) - Celtic (SCO) (3 - 1)
Partizan Belgrade (SRB) - Sparta Prague (CZE) (1 - 0)
(21h00) Slavia Prague (CZE) - Fenerbahce (TUR) (3 - 2)
PAOK Thessaloniki (GRE) - Midtjylland (DEN) (0 - 1)
Speed Arnhem (NED) - Rapid Vienna (AUT) (1 - 2)
Note: the winners of the C3 and C4 round trip play-offs will join the eight group winners of the 1st phase for the round of 16, the draw of which will take place on Friday February 25.
© 2022 AFP