A potential UEFA Champions League El Clasico is possible in February | OneFootball

The one El Clasico played this season went Barcelona’s way in a landslide win at the Santiago Bernabeu, but there is reason for the Merengues to feel confident in their chances going forward.

As the season progresses, the two Spanish giants will lock horns multiple times with the possibility of them facing off in the Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey and the reverse fixture at Camp Nou already on the schedule.

Mundo Deportivo now brings to light that a potential El Clasico in the UEFA Champions League is also a serious possibility.

A new format with new implications

Real Madrid’s run in the UCL so far has not been great by any measure but their recent win over Atalanta gave them a big boost in their chances of qualifying.

A spot in the top-8 is out of reach for Carlo Ancelotti’s men but they are fighting to finish as high as possible to hopefully get seeded in the extra knockout round that they must play.

Real Madrid and Barcelona can lock horns in the UEFA Champions League. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Barcelona, meanwhile, are currently well placed to finish in the top 8 as it stands but their recent form and the list of opponents they are yet to face makes it clear that it is far from certain.

Should Barcelona finish between 9th and 16th place and Real Madrid end up between 17th to 24th on the table, there is a real chance they may face each other in the extra round.

Unlike previous editions, the draw for the first knockout round has no restrictions in terms of federations or teams previously faced which implies that any team can play any other team in the opposite pool.

The random draw may thus see Barcelona and Real Madrid pitted against each other early in the competition with the games scheduled in mid-February.