FC Barcelona’s hopes of qualifying for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup took a hit after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Napoli in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie.
The draw leaves Barça in 12th place in the UEFA Champions League rankings, six points behind Atlético Madrid in eighth place. The top eight teams in the rankings at the end of the season will qualify for the Club World Cup.
Barça can still qualify for the Club World Cup if they win the second leg against Napoli and Atlético Madrid lose their match against Manchester United. However, even if they do that, they would still need to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The draw against Napoli was a major setback for Barça, who were hoping to make a strong run in the Champions League this season. The club has not won the European Cup since 2015, and they are eager to add to their record of five titles.
Barça will need to be at their best in the second leg against Napoli if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for the Club World Cup alive. The match will be played at the Camp Nou on March 15.
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