Slavia Prague return to Champions League action after a long competitive break, with their last official match coming on December 13 a thrilling 4-3 league win over Jablonec, softfootball reported. Since then, the Czech champions have only played friendlies against Basel, Karlsruher and Brann, so their preparation for a high-stakes European night has been limited.
Jindrich Trpisovsky’s side have struggled in the Champions League this season, failing to win in six matches. They have three draws and three defeats, leaving them 33rd in the standings, four points behind the playoff spots.
Slavia have only scored twice this campaign, including a 3-0 defeat to Tottenham in their last UCL game. Their record against Spanish clubs is poor, with just two wins from 16 matches, and a 2-1 loss to Barcelona in the 2019–20 group stage highlights the challenge ahead.
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Barcelona arrive knowing they need a strong performance to secure a top-eight finish. Hansi Flick’s team sit 15th in the UCL table with 10 points, two points shy of the playoff spots.
The La Liga leaders come off a shock 2-1 loss to Real Sociedad, and they shared a video of training on their X handle, showing their focus ahead of this match. Barcelona have been unbeaten in eight games against Czech opposition and possess enough attacking quality to overcome Slavia’s defence.
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Team News
For Slavia Prague, Long-term absentees Matous Srb and Dominik Javorcek remain out, but the hosts have no new injuries or suspensions. Mojmir Chytil, with 8 goals this season, is expected to start up front. Lukas Provod, the team’s top creator with 10 assists, will feature in midfield. Tomas Chory may start on the bench.
For Barcelona, Lamine Yamal is suspended due to card accumulation. Gavi and Andreas Christensen are out with knee injuries. Raphinha is a doubt after a thigh problem but could start in the middle. Marcus Rashford may play on the left, Fermin Lopez is likely to start in attack, and Ferran Torres should lead the line over Lewandowski.
Possible Lineups
- Slavia Prague (4-2-3-1): Stanek; Holes, Chaloupek, Ogbu, Zima; Doudera, Moses; Provod, Sadilek, Sanyang; Chytil
- Barcelona (4-3-3): J Garcia; Kounde, Cubarsi, E Garcia, Balde; Pedri, De Jong; Fermin, Raphinha, Rashford; F Torres
Prediction
Slavia have struggled in the Champions League this season, while Barcelona are desperate to bounce back from a league defeat. With quality in the final third and experience in Europe, the La Liga champions are expected to claim a comfortable win.
Where to watch
The UEFA Champions League match between Slavia Prague and Barcelona will take place on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, with kick-off at 3:00 PM ET (8:00 PM GMT/UTC). Fans in the United States can watch live via Paramount+ and DAZN.
In the United Kingdom, the game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 6, with streaming on Discovery+. Viewers in India can follow the match on SonyLIV, while Australian fans can watch on Stan Sport.
For other regions, the official FC Barcelona website provides a full viewing guide. Live updates are also available on ESPN.
