Barcelona Sc head coach César Farías stepped in front of the microphones ahead of the return leg against Botafogo in Phase 3 of the CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026. The decisive match is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 9: 30 PM ET, with Barcelona chasing a place in the group stage and the financial lift that comes with it. Farías framed the moment in blunt terms: work, values, and intensity—because he expects a hard game, and he says pressure sits on the other side too.
Farías: “Think everything is possible” as Barcelona Sc faces Botafogo
Speaking in the build-up to the match, Farías said the mindset is non-negotiable. “Think everything is possible, when you work with honesty, with values and with the necessary vehemence, to face a match that will be hard, ” he said, adding that the scenario brings “a big, magical energy” that pushes a team beyond fatigue.
Farías also acknowledged the tension of the occasion, saying the match will be difficult for Botafogo as well and that they carry significant pressure. He presented the return leg as a test of response—handling circumstances as they appear, not as they are imagined.
Path to qualification: win, draw, or penalties
Farías was reminded of the previous meeting with Botafogo in Rio, a game Barcelona won 2–0. He said the team’s belief is daily, not occasional, and stressed that Barcelona is arriving with a clear objective: qualification.
“We have come to seek qualification; now we not only have the possibility to win, but also to draw and go to penalties, ” Farías said. He emphasized the team’s preference for a direct qualification result, while underlining that the match itself will demand answers to whatever happens in real time.
In the same remarks, Farías said the team is in a better place than it was when it played Argentinos Juniors, describing Barcelona as arriving with “a little more strength” than it had in Buenos Aires. The approach, he insisted, remains the same: always play thinking about winning.
Millions at stake as Barcelona Sc targets Libertadores group stage
The stakes extend beyond the pitch. Barcelona SC is playing for more than three million dollars tied to the competition outcome. If the club qualifies, it would receive more than three million dollars in prizes connected to participation, wins, and gate revenue. If it goes to the Copa Sudamericana instead, the figure listed is 900, 000 dollars.
That financial swing sharpens the urgency around Tuesday night’s second leg. With a group-stage place on offer, the match carries immediate sporting consequences and a major economic impact at the same time—one of the clearest pressure points of the day for the club.
What’s next after Tuesday night
When the final whistle comes at Tuesday, March 10, 9: 30 PM ET, Barcelona will have its route set—either into the Libertadores group stage or toward the Sudamericana path described in the current prize breakdown. Farías’ message going in is simple: Barcelona Sc must keep the belief and meet every moment of the match with the response it demands.
