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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

3 Things To Know Ahead of Barcelona vs Bayern UEFA Champions Clash

The two teams are set to face off once again this year, with their match scheduled to take place at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. Both teams have been in excellent form and will enter the game with considerable momentum.

The Catalans belted five goals past Sevilla at the weekend while Bayern put four goals past Stuttgart in their league game. The Germans got 24 hours of added rest before the clash while Hansi Flick’s men boast of the home advantage.

Barça Universal brings you three talking points ahead of Barcelona vs Bayern Munich.

The first big European test
Barcelona’s season so far has been as close to flawless as it can be. Two defeats indeed do not look good on the result sheet, but their performances apart from those two understandable slip-ups have been spectacular.

Under Hansi Flick, the Catalans have looked comfortable in defence, red-hot in attack and stable through the midfield with a high press defining their performances to date.

Now comfortable settled in and with the momentum on their side, they step into their first game against a European giant tomorrow night and it will be interesting to see how they fare against an elite opposition.

Bayern Munich are not without their flaws but hold a massive psychological edge over the Blaugrana, especially in recent years.

The Bavarians have won all of their last six games against Barcelona with the Catalans’ last win over the Germans coming back in their MSN era. Further, Bayern have scored 22 goals against Barcelona in the last six meetings compared to the hosts’ four.

A win would thus set the team’s wings free and serve as a serious testament to their form this season. They are well capable of dismantling Vincent Kompany’s men this season but it will all boil down to the psychological aspect.

The high defensive line

Barcelona deploy a very high defensive line under Hansi Flick with the centre-backs playing close to the halfway line and the full-backs advanced as false wingers.

While the gamble has paid serious dividends in improving the team’s presence in the final third, it has not come without giving opposition chances to counter-attack and teams with pace have often found paradise on the break.

Inigo Martinez and Pau Cubarsi have indeed been sensational so far, playing the perfect offside trap and not allowing the opposition’s chances to play long balls. Against Bayern Munich, however, it will be a whole new ballgame.

The Germans have one of Europe’s finest attacking trios. Harry Kane, Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise have been in great form with the wingers capable of lashing out vicious counter-attacks when given half a chance.

Jamal Musiala, meanwhile, is a big threat between the lines, creating chaos right outside opposition boxes.

The spotlight, thus, will be on the entire defensive unit tomorrow for keeping the attack at bay will be crucial.

Who will play as the mediapunta?

Hansi Flick’s lineup for tomorrow’s clash is almost written in stone as he has quickly identified his best XI in the current squad.

Inaki Pena will likely continue in goal and could end up as a weak link on the field. While Wojciech Szczesny would be a great option, it is unlikely that the manager will hand him a debut in such a high-pressure clash.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Champions League Top Scorers 2025-26: Mbappe, Haaland, Osimhen Lead The Golden Boot Race

Champions League Top Scorers 2025-26: The Battle For Europe’s Most Ruthless Finisher

The race for the 2025-26 Champions League Golden Boot is shaping up into another heavyweight shootout, with Europe’s most lethal forwards firing at full throttle.

Last season, the scoring chart exploded as Raphinha and Serhou Guirassy both finished with 13 goals, one of the highest tallies in modern UCL history. It was a reminder that Europe’s attackers aren’t just competing — they’re breaking barriers.

Now, the 2025-26 campaign is delivering more fireworks as big names like Kylian Mbappe, Victor Osimhen, Erling Haaland, and Harry Kane battle for the crown.

Below is the updated top scorer ranking after matches played on Wednesday, November 26.

UEFA Champions League Top Goal Scorers 2025-26

Updated After Matches Played On November 26

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid 9
2 Victor Osimhen Galatasaray 6
3 Harry Kane Bayern Munich 5
=3 Erling Haaland Manchester City 5
5 Anthony Gordon Newcastle United 4
=5 Harvey Barnes Newcastle United 4
=5 Marcus Rashford Barcelona 4
=5 Gabriel Martinelli Arsenal 4
=5 Vitinha PSG 4
=5 Lautaro Martinez Inter Milan 4

At the moment, Mbappe is setting the pace with nine goals as Real Madrid push for another deep run in Europe. Right behind him is Victor Osimhen, whose red-hot form at Galatasaray has shocked the continent.

Meanwhile, serial scorers Haaland and Kane remain firmly in the race, proving yet again why they are two of the most reliable forwards in world football.

Who Won Last Season’s Champions League Golden Boot?

The 2024-25 Golden Boot ended in dramatic fashion — and with two winners.

Both Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) and Raphinha (Barcelona) finished tied on 13 goals, with UEFA refusing to use tie-breakers such as assists or minutes played.

The result?
A shared Golden Boot, and a season remembered for its goal-scoring chaos.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Hansi Flick Defends Lamine Yamal After Chelsea Clash And Calls For Teen Star To Step Up

Lamine Yamal looking frustrated during Barcelona’s Champions League defeat to Chelsea.

Flick Backs Yamal After A Rough Night In London

Barcelona’s Champions League setback at Stamford Bridge has dominated headlines, and one storyline took center stage — Lamine Yamal vs Marc Cucurella. The 18-year-old starlet struggled to break free from Cucurella, whom Hansi Flick boldly labelled “one of the best full-backs in the world.”

Despite the tough showing and the teenager’s visible frustration when he was subbed off late in the match, Flick stepped in with both support and a challenge.

“Lamine is fine. Many players aren’t happy when we substitute them,” Flick said. “Cucurella is one of the best in the world… but now it’s Lamine’s turn to step up.”

A firm hand. A soft landing. Classic Flick.

Barcelona Need A Reaction After The Chelsea Collapse

Barca’s 3-0 loss featured an own goal from Jules Kounde and clinical finishes from Estevao and Liam Delap. The defeat leaves Barcelona sitting in the playoff zone of their group instead of the automatic qualification spots — not exactly the Blaugrana standard.

Flick admitted it was “tough” and the team was “feeling down,” but he pushed back against the idea that the defence alone should carry the blame.

Barcelona’s high line makes headlines every season, but Flick made the tactical demand crystal clear:

“It’s not just the defenders. If we don’t all press effectively, we’ll have problems.”

Translation?
If one gear misses, the whole Barca machine stutters.

Injury Updates: More Problems, Some Solutions

Ahead of the weekend clash against Alaves, Barcelona’s squad news is mixed:

❌ Ronald Araujo

Out with a stomach virus — and coming off a red card vs Chelsea.

❌ Fermin Lopez

Experiencing discomfort after the Chelsea match. Flick joked that sometimes even “new boots with new monthly colors” can cause issues.

✔️ Pedri

Expected to return in the second half.
Barcelona fans exhaled collectively.

✔️ Marc Bernal

Will get minutes after recovering from injury.

✔️ Andreas Christensen In Midfield?

Yes — Flick is seriously considering it alongside Eric Garcia.

✔️ Raphinha

Flick says he’s “one of the most focused players” and admits he has missed the Brazilian’s spark.

Spotlight: Yamal Must Answer The Call

Cucurella may have won the duel at Stamford Bridge, but Flick’s message is clear:

This is not about one bad night.
It is about how the young star responds.

Barcelona need energy, leadership, and bravery — and Flick believes Yamal can provide it.

For an 18-year-old carrying expectations this huge, the next match will be more than just another LaLiga fixture.
It’s a character exam.

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Ballon d’Or

Thomas Frank Backs Vitinha For Ballon d’Or After Spurs’ 5-3 Thriller Loss To PSG

Tottenham gave Paris Saint-Germain a real scare in Paris but ultimately fell 5-3 in a thrilling Champions League clash. Spurs twice led the defending champions, but a stunning second-half display from PSG, led by Vitinha, proved decisive.

Despite the defeat, Tottenham boss Thomas Frank praised his side’s performance, highlighting their grit, personality, and aggressiveness. “I’m pleased with the performance. It was the reaction I wanted from the players, from the team. Much more character, personality, aggressiveness… Today we saw it, and I’m pleased with that,” Frank told reporters.

Frank also reserved high praise for PSG midfielder Vitinha, who scored a hat-trick and finished third in this year’s Ballon d’Or. “When we played against a decent team where they have one Ballon d’Or winner and I think the next one is playing in midfield… Vitinha. Wow, what a player,” said Frank. “Vitinha is the best midfielder in the world. He will be the next Ballon d’Or winner.”

The match saw Tottenham showing signs of life after their 4-1 drubbing by Arsenal, with strikers scoring two goals and promising performances from Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. Midfielder Gray reflected positively on the game, noting that Spurs faced “probably the best team in Europe at the moment” and that there were valuable lessons to take forward.

While Spurs now face back-to-back heavy defeats, Frank’s words underline that the team’s identity and fighting spirit remain intact. For Tottenham fans, there are positives to build on even in defeat, and lessons from facing Europe’s elite could prove invaluable.

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