For Barcelona, suddenly, there is pressure. Tuesday’s 1–0 defeat at Inter Milan means that at the halfway stage of the Champions League group stage it sits third in the group, three points behind Inter and six behind Bayern Munich. If Xavi’s side does not beat Inter at home next week, the likelihood is that it will go out of the Champions League before the knockout stage for the second successive season.
Having sold so many assets, having effectively mortgaged so much of the future of the club on the expectation of instant success—beyond La Liga, where it sits in first through seven games—that would be a severe blow.