Gaizka Mendieta, the former Valencia midfielder, believes Barcelona are the side most likely to lift the UEFA Champions League trophy this season — driven not by pressure, but by an intense collective desire across the club.

Speaking to Casinolyze, Mendieta said that while winning La Liga is always a target at the Camp Nou, it is the European crown that truly captures the imagination of the squad, the supporters, and the club's leadership alike.

"I wouldn't say there is pressure on Barcelona to win the Champions League, but certainly excitement about it. Regarding La Liga, he's made it pretty clear that he wants to win a third consecutive championship. However, I think for the club, the fans, and especially the players, the Champions League is the trophy they want most this season."

Mendieta pointed to the decade-long wait as a key motivator. Barcelona last won the competition ten years ago, and Mendieta argues that for a club of their stature, that absence from Europe's summit has been acutely felt.

"They've been so close for the past two years, and as you say, ten years is way too long for a club like this. Now that they are back among the elite after all those financial troubles and the resulting difficulty in signing players, they have found their identity again with the right coach and players like Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Pedri. I think the Champions League is now the unspoken priority for the club and the players."

Quarter-final heartbreak and renewed ambition

Barcelona's campaign in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League ended at the quarter-final stage, where Atletico Madrid eliminated them. That exit will only sharpen their resolve as they look to go deeper this time around.

On the domestic front, Barcelona have made a perfect start to the current season, winning all of their opening matches, and will be aiming to claim a third straight La Liga title while simultaneously mounting a serious European challenge.

With a settled squad built around talents such as Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, and Pedri — and a clear footballing identity restored after years of financial difficulty — Mendieta sees this as the moment Barcelona are genuinely equipped to end their long wait for European glory.