Five key stats ahead of Barcelona vs Royal Antwerp | UEFA Champions League

Barcelona will make their UEFA Champions League debut at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Montjuic when they lock horns with Royal Antwerp later tonight.

While the Blaugrana will mostly be aiming to get over the ghost of their past, having been eliminated from the group stage in each of their last two seasons, there awaits a series of milestones; both personal and from the club’s perspective.

And their form against clubs from Belgium should fill the team with confidence heading into tonight’s clash.

Indeed, over the years, they have faced several Belgian opponents and in a series of encounters, they have emerged victorious on seven occasions, while settling for a draw just once.

Furthermore, Barcelona’s forthcoming match against Royal Antwerp will mark their remarkable 28th appearance in the UEFA Champions League since the competition’s rebranding in 1992/93.

Furthermore, this will be Barcelona’s 20th consecutive appearance in the Champions League, dating back to the 2004/2005 season

Tonight also marks a historic moment for Barcelona as this will be the first time that Montjuijc will host a UEFA Champions League encounter.

It must be noted that during the 1996/1997 season, Barcelona took to the field for a single European encounter at the Montjuic Stadium against Larnaca in the European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Barcelona defender Joao Cancelo is preparing to step onto the hallowed turf for his 50th appearance in the UEFA Champions League. 

The Portuguese right-back has carved a remarkable path through Europe’s premier club competition, representing some of the continent’s most iconic teams, including Valencia, Juventus, Manchester City and Bayern Munich.

Tonight, Robert Lewandowski stands on the cusp of footballing history as he aims to reach 100 goals in European club competitions.

The prolific Polish striker has amassed a staggering 99 goals across various European tournaments, including the illustrious Champions League, the Europa League, and the qualifying phases that precede them.