Former Barcelona midfielder and current Royal Antwerp manager, Mark van Bommel, has expressed his belief that Barcelona is currently performing at an elite level and has a legitimate shot at winning the UEFA Champions League this season.
Barcelona kicked off their Champions League campaign with an impressive 5-0 victory over Royal Antwerp at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. The goals in this victory were scored by Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski, and Gavi.
What’s noteworthy is that this win stands as Barcelona’s most significant Champions League triumph since their memorable 6-1 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Round of 16 during the 2016-17 season.
Reflecting on his team’s performance after the match, the former Dutch international mentioned that his squad displayed competence with the ball. However, he acknowledged that Barcelona consistently held the upper hand throughout the game.
He stated, “Their first three shots on goal turned into three goals for them. I thought we handled the ball well, and I can’t fault my team for their effort. This is, naturally, the level of the Champions League. They are at the pinnacle of world football,” as reported by Mundo Deportivo.
Van Bommel, a UEFA Champions League winner with Barcelona in the 2005/06 season, emphasized that this loss would serve as a valuable learning experience for his team.
“They keep playing, moving, and turning – that’s the direction we need to head in, but we still have a long way to go. However, there’s no shame in it. It’s a significant learning moment for us. Losing 5-0 is tough, no doubt about it, but despite the scoreline, we gave it our all and performed well,” stated the Royal Antwerp manager.
Van Bommel also added that if Barcelona can maintain their consistency, they have the potential to secure the Champions League title.