Barca Without Key Player for UCL Quarters; Madrid Stars to Miss QF?

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The UEFA Champions League progresses to the most important section in its draw, as the heavyweights clash in the quarterfinals. 

Football fans around Europe anxiously await their Champions League tickets, with the stakes running high for their respective clubs. 

Amidst everything happening around Europe’s biggest club competition, the attention is drawn to one club – Barcelona. 

While the Catalan giants are returning to Europe strong, with Hansi Flick making a new revolution at the club, the club still needs to clear several hurdles in the form of top teams to win. 

With the quarterfinal draw set, another massive question lingering in the minds of every fan looking to buy Champions League final tickets is whether the football world is ready for the ultimate Real Madrid v FC Barcelona final. 

While that is a probability with the draw, the club must win two more games to make a final. 

But the news from Barcelona is that the club will be missing a key figure for the quarterfinal. 

Dani Olmo Out of Quarterfinal 

Barcelona winger Dani Olmo is expected to be sidelined for three weeks with a right adductor injury, the Catalan club announced on Friday.

Olmo will miss at least five games for Barça, including his team’s Champions League quarterfinal opener against Borussia Dortmund on April 9.

The Spanish international got hurt shortly after scoring his team’s second from the penalty spot in Thursday’s 3-0 league win against Osasuna and was replaced in the 28th minute.

“Tests conducted this morning have confirmed that first-team player Dani Olmo has a right adductor injury. He is expected to be out for around three weeks,” Barça said in a statement on Friday.

On Sunday, Olmo played 84 minutes in Spain’s Nations League semifinal triumph against the Netherlands and started against Osasuna.

Barça coach Hansi Flick admitted after Thursday’s game that the victory, which saw his team move three points clear at the top of La Liga, came at a “heavy price” after losing Olmo to injury.

Olmo has scored eight goals and set up five more in 28 appearances since joining Barça from Leipzig last summer.

Olmo will also miss next week’s Copa del Rey semifinal return leg at Atlético Madrid.

Mbappe and Vinicius Junior in Trouble 

Arsenal hopes to get a boost ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash with Real Madrid amid news that four of their opponent’s players are under investigation and could face potential bans. 

UEFA released a statement regarding the behaviour of some of the Los Blancos squad after their win over Atletico Madrid in the last-16 clash.

“A UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct by Real Madrid CF players (Antonio Rüdiger, Kylian Mbappé, Daniel Ceballos Fernández and Vinicius Junior) during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Club Atlético de Madrid and Real Madrid CF on 12 March 2025.

“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”

While Ceballos has been on the fringes, the other three are consistent starting figures in Carlo Ancelotti’s side. 

They would be massive misses for the team against an already injury-hit Arsenal side. The Gunners will be without Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus, leaving them without a recognised centre-forward. At the same time, Riccardo Calafiori suffered a knee injury while on international duty, which could also have caused him to miss the match.

Bukayo Saka, however, could return after the player and Arsenal’s social channels posted images of the winger back on the grass and in training. 

Whether he can play a part against Fulham or Everton will be determined in the coming days.

Real Madrid are also without Aurelien Tchouameni, who is suspended for the match after picking up three yellow cards across the competition. 

There are also concerns about Fran Garcia, who has been filling in for the injured Ferland Mendy, although there are suggestions in Spain that the Frenchman may be back to face the Gunners.

A potential loss of Mbappe, Rudiger, and Vini Jr. will test the depth of the Los Blancos squad, which is lacking other notable figures: Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal. This means David Alaba could be a left-back for the German international, playing alongside the impressive young Spaniard Raul Asencio.

Federico Valverde has been playing plenty at right-back, but with Tchouameni out could return to midfield with Lucas Vazquez returning to right-back. 

Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham will continue unless Ancelotti sees the need for 39-year-old Luka Modric’s experience.

However, the forward line is truly intriguing without their main stars. 

Rodrygo is the regular starter who would naturally be in the front three. Unless Ancelotti decides to use Bellingham as a forward figure and bring in another midfielder in his place, the other two attackers are the Brazilian teenage sensation Endrick and Brahim Diaz.

Real Madrid changed XI – Courtois, Vazquez, Asencio, Alaba, Mendy, Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham, Rodrygo, Diaz, Endrick

Unlike the last few seasons, Real Madrid is under pressure to perform this season, with its star-studded lineup, and showcase that it is still the best team in Europe. 

Barça Highest Earner In UCL

FC Barcelona has undoubtedly been one of the best-performing teams in Europe this season. They have been consistent across all competitions, including the UEFA Champions League.

Apart from sporting success, Barcelona’s performances in the Champions League have yielded major financial success.

Indeed, the Catalans rank second in money earned in the UCL this season, with only Liverpool earning more, reports AS.

The Blaugrana have secured a staggering €55.145 million in revenue so far, significantly higher than that of their arch-rivals and defending champions, Real Madrid.

Just for participating in the Champions League, Barcelona received €18.62 million. Their six victories in the league phase added another €12.6 million, while the draw against Atalanta brought in an additional €700,000.

Finishing second in the league standings secured €9.625 million, and they received a €2 million bonus for qualifying directly among the top eight teams.

Most recently, their place in the Round of 16 earned them another €11 million, further bolstering the club’s coffers.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, is currently ranked tenth in the competition, with an overall revenue of €49.7 million.

While Liverpool currently leads the earnings chart with €56.92 million, Barcelona are well-positioned to surpass the €100 million mark should they continue progressing in the tournament.

This is all the more incentive for Flick’s men to continue performing well as the campaign approaches its final phase.

Champions League final tickets are available for early interest.

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