Madrid, Dec 8 (NationPress) FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are set for crucial matches in the Champions League on Tuesday, both aiming to clinch direct spots in the knockout stages. Barcelona will welcome Eintracht Frankfurt at Camp Nou, marking their first home European match this season after initially playing at Montjuic.

Recent setbacks against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Chelsea, coupled with a 3-3 draw against Club Brugge, have put Hansi Flick's squad in a tight spot within the expanded 36-team league phase.

Currently, Barcelona is positioned 18th with seven points from five games. Securing a place in the top eight guarantees automatic qualification, while a lower finish could push them into a playoff round in February. The Catalan team is optimistic about maximizing points in their upcoming fixtures against Frankfurt, Copenhagen, and Slavia Prague, although any dropped points could be detrimental.

Barcelona's recent performance has been promising, having triumphed over Atletico Madrid 3-1 at home last week, followed by a thrilling 5-3 victory against Real Betis away. Despite conceding twice after Flick rotated key players, the team is eager to field stars like Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, who were rested previously. Fermin Lopez has recovered to add depth to the midfield, and Frenkie de Jong might also return if Flick decides to reposition Eric Garcia in defense.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid will face PSV Eindhoven, fully aware that their away performance has been lacking. Under the guidance of Diego Simeone, the team has suffered defeats in both away Champions League matches this season, at Liverpool and Arsenal, despite maintaining an impeccable home record.

Atletico will again miss central defender Jose Gimenez, full-back Marcos Llorente, and winger Alex Baena. Midfielder Johnny Cardoso is anticipated to return after missing the narrow 1-0 loss to Athletic Club on Saturday.

Barcelona displayed resilience over the weekend, overcoming a challenging match against in-form Real Betis, who started the weekend in fifth place in La Liga with a potent attack.

Initially, the odds seemed against Hansi Flick's squad when their flight to Seville was delayed due to fog, and Betis took an early lead through Antony within five minutes.

However, Barcelona quickly turned the tide, with Torres netting a goal after just seven minutes, followed by a volley that put the team ahead, leading them to a decisive victory.

Barcelona's impressive performance against Atletico Madrid has certainly sent a warning to their title competitors.