FC Barcelona: How to Beat Barca in the Champions League This Season

Barcelona is definitely a hard team to beat, but the Champions League provides teams with a possibility of doing just that.

The prospect of playing Barcelona in just one game straight-up can be tough, but with a two-legged tie that can also be affected by the away goals, rule things get a little more complicated.

Barcelona's potential opponents in the Champions League Round of 16 include: Napoli, CSKA, Basel, Lyon, Bayer Leverkusen, Marseille and Zenit St. Petersburg.

Without going into what threat each team would provide, this a pretty solid group of teams for any team to have to face in Europe.

Here are a few ways that teams can beat Barcelona in the Champions League this season.

Defend Home Turf

In other words, don't give up an away goal. Or at the least, don't give up more away goals than your team can possibly equal at the Camp Nou. Actually, scratch that and stick with the first one. It's definitely easy to say, but not at all easy to do.

Although Barcelona has been unusually off-form in away league games, they have had no such trouble in the Champions League. Then again, AC Milan was the team's only real competition.

However, the ability to negate Barcelona's away output to even just one goal may just make the two-legged tie that much easier.

"Park the Bus" and Stay Compact Defensively

As much I prefer a game with attacking play and numerous chances, defense comes first when you play against Barcelona.

We all know about "parking the bus," and that is exactly what teams will have to do against Barcelona's possession. Pressing high and hard is a noble plan, but it rarely works out for the whole 90 minutes.

Getafe was a great example of a compact defensive display, and Sevilla did good work as well, though, the magnificent play from their goalkeeper played a big part.

This is not to say that being compact will work, but it seems—especially judging by Real Madrid's eventual collapse last weekend—that it is better to defend in this way.

Play with Energy and Hustle

Just because a team is playing compactly doesn't mean that there should be no energy involved.

At every possible chance, Barcelona players should be hustled and harried into mistakes, however rare those mistakes might be.

This goes all the way throughout the team and requires 100 percent effort the whole game.

Be Efficient on the Counterattack/Finish Chances

Speed, precision and being clinical are of great importance here. Whenever the team makes a break, a lightning quick counterattack can do wonders against Barcelona.

Real Madrid is very good on the counter, and Napoli's squad is extremely well set up to play like this. Teams just need to make the best of their speed up front.

Be Efficient on Set Pieces

If the previously mentioned counterattacks go well, at the very least Barcelona could concede a corner or a dangerous free kick.

Both types of set plays should provide ample opportunity for a ball in to the box, which can cause confusion or a well-placed shot on goal.

Maximum Concentration Throughout

To achieve all of this it will be completely essential that all 11 players are fully concentrated throughout the entirety of the game.

A team can defend well with compactness and energy the whole game only for one simple lapse to lead to a chance and most likely a goal. If that lapse comes early, well, good luck with the rest of the game.

On the other end of the field, players who have spent some time concentrating on defense will have to be prepared to take that one chance that may come their way.

Get Some Luck

Go and grab a rabbit's foot or something.

All the tactical planning and preparation may not be enough, and sometimes luck can lead to a win.

It could be Barcelona players being injured, suspended or even the travel disruptions that occurred before Barcelona's semifinal tie with Inter.

Sometimes you just get lucky.