The lights of the Fortuna Arena in Prague will shine tonight, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for a high-stakes encounter as Slavia Prague hosts FC Barcelona. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET / 21:00 local).
Barcelona enters this match in 15th place (10 points), needing two wins from their final two games to have any chance of breaking into the top eight for direct Round of 16 qualification. For Slavia Prague, currently in 33rd place (3 points), anything less than a victory tonight will mathematically end their European campaign.
Match Information
| Feature | Details |
| Competition | UEFA Champions League (Matchday 7) |
| Date | Wednesday, January 21, 2026 |
| Kick-off | 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 21:00 local |
| Venue | Fortuna Arena, Prague, Czech Republic |
| Referee | Slavko Vinčić (Slovenia) |
| TV Channel | Paramount+ (US) / TNT Sports (UK) / Movistar+ (Spain) |
Barcelona: A Vital Trip to Prague
Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona has enjoyed a resurgent 2025/26 season, though they arrive in Prague following a frustrating 2–1 loss to Real Sociedad that snapped an 11-match winning streak. With the league phase nearing its end, Flick has emphasized that "16 points is the target," requiring wins tonight and against Copenhagen next week.
Team News and Selection:
Suspension Blow: The biggest absence is Lamine Yamal, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Injury Ward: Gavi and Andreas Christensen remain long-term absentees. Ferran Torres is also out with a muscle injury suffered last week.
The "Rashford" Factor: Reports suggest January signing Marcus Rashford could make his European debut for the Blaugrana tonight, likely starting on the left wing.
Returns: Raphinha has recovered from a minor fitness issue and is expected to lead the attack alongside Robert Lewandowski.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Joan García; Koundé, Cubarsí, Eric García, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Raphinha, Olmo, Rashford; Lewandowski.
Slavia Prague: The Winter Break Factor
Slavia Prague has not played a competitive match in over a month due to the Czech domestic winter break. While manager Jindřich Trpišovský hopes the rest has refreshed his squad, the lack of match rhythm could be a significant disadvantage against a sharp Barcelona side.
Team News and Selection:
Full Strength: Other than long-term injuries to Matouš Srb and Dominik Javorček, Slavia has a nearly full squad available.
Key Attackers: Tomáš Chorý and Lukáš Provod have been prolific in domestic play and will be the primary threats on the counter-attack.
Defensive Anchor: Captain Tomáš Holeš will lead a backline tasked with stopping a Barcelona attack that has scored 14 goals in the competition so far.
Predicted XI (4-4-1-1): Staněk; Holeš, Zima, Chaloupek, Bořil; Douděra, Moses, Sadílek, Sanyang; Provod; Chorý.
? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats
Historical Edge: Barcelona has won seven of their eight Champions League matches against Czech opposition.
The 2019 Ghost: The last time these two met in Prague (2019), Barcelona escaped with a narrow 2–1 win. The return leg in Spain ended in a shock 0–0 draw.
Goal Drought: Slavia Prague has failed to score in their last five Champions League outings, a streak they must break tonight to survive.
Lewandowski Milestone: Robert Lewandowski has scored against 38 different teams in the UCL; Slavia Prague is one of the few prominent clubs he has never scored against.
Tactical Analysis and Prediction
Barcelona will likely dominate possession (averaging 62% this season) and use the creative duo of Pedri and Frenkie de Jong to unlock a deep-sitting Slavia defense. Without the flair of Yamal, much will depend on Raphinha’s directness and Lewandowski’s clinical finishing.
Slavia’s best hope lies in the "Fortuna Arena factor"—a notoriously hostile environment—and catching a high-line Barcelona defense on the break. However, the gulf in quality and Slavia's lack of competitive minutes since December make a home win unlikely.
Final Score Prediction: Slavia Prague 0–2 Barcelona
