Royal Antwerp host Barcelona at Bosuilstadion this Wednesday in the final week of the Champions League Group stage. Barcelona are in the driving seat for qualification, just needing at least a point to confirm it whereas Antwerp are looking to get their first points of the campaign.
Antwerp currently sit bottom of Group H after five games. The Belgian side have five losses in their five games, leaving them nine points behind Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto and 12 points behind Barcelona.
In their last five games in all competitions, Antwerp have three wins, one draw and one loss. Jarne Steuckers opened the scoring for STVV in the first half, but Chidera Ejuke equalised for Antwerp in the 81st minute in a poor showing that saw Antwerp register one shot on target. In the Champions League, Antwerp travelled to Shakhtar Donetsk. Mykola Matviyenko scored the only goal of the game in the 12th minute to give Shakhtar the 1 - 0 win over ten-man Antwerp, who had Arbnor Muja sent off in the 97th minute.
Antwerp bounced back in the Belgian Pro League. Michel-Ange Balikwisha scored the only goal of the game just before halftime for a 1 - 0 win for Antwerp over Oud-Heverlee Leuven. In the Round of 16 of the Belgian Cup, Antwerp hosted Charleroi. Oday Dabbagh and Daan Heymans gave Charleroi an early 2 - 0 lead, but a goal from Ejuke just before halftime and braces from George Ilenikhena and Vincent Janssen gave Antwerp the 5 - 2 win.
The last time out for Antwerp was against Cercle Brugge. Jurgen Ekkelenkamp and Ejuke put Antwerp ahead going into the final 30 minutes, but Ahoueke Denkey brought Cercle Brugge back into the game. However, Ilenikhena scored late on to secure the 3 - 1 win for Antwerp.
Barcelona, on the other hand, sit top of Group H. In five games, Barcelona have four wins and one loss which leaves them three points ahead of both Porto and Shakhtar Donetsk on nine points.
In their last five games in all competitions, Barcelona have three wins, one draw and one loss. Samu Omorodion gave Alaves a shock lead in the first minute, but a second half brace from Robert Lewandowski gave Barcelona the 2 - 1 win. Barcelona once again went behind first, with Unai Lopez scoring first for Rayo Vallecano. In fact, Barcelona only managed to grab a point through a Florian Lejeune own goal.
In the Champions League, Barcelona hosted Porto. Pepe opened the scoring for Porto, but goals from Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix gave Barcelona the important 2 - 1 win. Back in La Liga, Barcelona faced Atletico Madrid. Felix scored the only goal of the game to give Barcelona the 1 - 0 win over his parent club.
The most recent outing for Barcelona was against Girona. Artem Dovbyk opened the scoring, but Lewandowski immediately equalised for Barcelona. However, goals from Miguel Gutierrez, Valery Fernandez and Cristhian Stuani gave Girona the 4 - 2 win, despite the late goal from Ilkay Gundogan.
Antwerp and Barcelona have only met once, in the first game of the Group stage. A Felix brace, goals from Lewandowski and Gavi and an own goal from Jelle Bataille gave Barcelona the 5 - 0 win.
