Barcelona, who play at Real Madrid in 'el clasico' on Sunday, will need a small miracle to avoid elimination from the group stage of the Champions League for the second straight year after winning only one of their four games so far.
A 3-3 draw at home against Inter Milan on Wednesday left them on the verge of another unwanted ticket to the Europa League.
That was not in the plans when Barcelona mortgaged their future by selling off part of their television rights and other assets to be able to invest in new players.
Club president Joan Laporta argued the risk was worth getting the team back to winning major titles and past the painful exit of Lionel Messi.
Robert Lewandowski, at least, has proven to be worth the money.
The 34-year-old Poland striker has scored 14 goals in 12 games in all competitions since leaving Bayern.
He leads the Spanish league with eight goals, and shares the scoring lead in the Champions League with Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah, with five goals each.
Lewandowski's two goals against Inter this week saved Barcelona from a tournament exit.
"After a bad game you have to face up to reality in the best way possible, show that you can play well and win," Lewandowski told DAZN television ahead of his first clasico.
"It is a tough moment but we know that we have the opportunity in the 'clásico' to go out there and win the game."
The rival teams are tied on points at the top of the standings, with Barcelona ahead on goal difference after both have seven wins and one draw.
Laporta said on Friday that failing to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League would cost the already highly-indebted club between 25 million euros ($A39 million) and 35 million euros ($A55 million) in projected revenues.
Barcelona have been hard hit by injuries, especially in defence after recently losing defenders Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen and Hector Bellerín.
That left Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez with only Eric Garcia and veteran Gerard Pique as centre backs against Inter.
Barcelona's defence will have to handle an attack for unbeaten Madrid headed by Karim Benzema and the speedy Vinicius Junior, who leads his team with seven goals.
The game will also feature Barcelona's eye-catching shirts bearing the owl logo of rapper Drake.
17°C