Barça, current champion, will face German Magdeburg in the semifinal of the 'Final Four' on June 17 and 18, while French Paris Saint Germain will play against Polish Kielce, coached by Talant Djushebaev, according to the draw held. this Tuesday in Cologne (Germany).
It will be Barca's eleventh presence in the fourteenth edition of the final phase in Cologne where they have won 4 titles (2011, 2015, 2021 and 2022) in seven finals. In this edition they will fight for their twelfth title of the highest European competition against a rookie.
This is Magdeburg by Bennet Wieger, who is a foreign legion made up of Danish, Icelandic, Swiss, Swedish, Slovenian, Norwegian, Dutch, Polish and German players who form a compact block and who this season has only made two signings: the Swiss goalkeeper Nikola Portner and his compatriot, center Lucas Meister.
Led by their 'star', the Icelandic left-back Ingi Magnusson, MVP and top scorer of the last Bundesliga, the effectiveness comes from the Dutch left-back Kay Smits, his highest scorer with 78 goals, the Swedish right winger Daniel Petersson and the winger Phillip Weber.
With the Danish giant (2.07 meters) Mike Jensen in goal and with the pivots Magnus Saugstrup, who returned last Sunday after three months absent due to a knee injury, and Lucas Meister closing the defence.
His great absence will be that of the Icelandic center back Gisli Kristjansson, another of his scorers (75 goals), who fractured his ankle and will be out until the end of the season.
His block play and his extremely tough defense stand out, as Barça already proved in the Super Globe final where they lost 41-39 after extra time, being the only team that has beaten them this season.
Magdeburg won three European Cups (1978,1981 and 2002) and it will be their first participation in the 'Final Four' of the Champions League. He comes to it after having eliminated the Polish Wisla Plock (22-22 in the first leg and 30-28 in the second leg).
For Barça, beating the German squad would be "a small revenge" for the two defeats suffered in the Super Globe final in 2021 (33-28) and 2022 (41-39 after extension).
