How many times has Barcelona reached the semi-finals of the Champions League?

Barcelona welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Estadio Lluís Companys this evening hoping to secure their passage to the Champions League semi-finals. Xavi’s team head into the game with a 2-3 advantage from last week’s first leg - a slender lead now that the away goals rule has been abolished.

Barcelona’s debut in European competition

Barcelona rank among the tournament’s most historic clubs. The Catalans are the third club to have played the most matches (tonight’s game will be their 349th) and the fifth with the most titles. They are also the third team with the most goals in this competition: 686. And if you need any more proof about their pedigree in the tournament, Barça are also the second team to have made the most appearances in the semi-final, only behind their old foes Real Madrid.

Helenio Herrera’s Barça first reached the last four in the 1959-60 edition of the European Cup - their debut in the competition. After seeing off CSKA Sofia, AC Milan and Wolves, the Blaugranas found themselves up against the defending champions, Real Madrid. The gulf in quality and experience was reflected in the score sheet - Los Blancos won the first leg 3-1 at the Bernabéu with Di Stéfano bagging one in each half and Pancho Puskás getting the other for the hosts. It was the same story in the return at Camp Nou - Madrid led 0-3 with goals from Puskás and Gento; Sándor Kocsis pulled one back for Barça but it was too little too late.

They were back the following year, under a new coach Enrique Orizaola - again qualifying via the preliminary round then knocking Madrid out in the first round (2-2 at the Bernabéu, 2-1 at Camp Nou). Czechoslovakia champions and tournament debutants Hradec Králové awaited in the quarter final. The tie was all over after the first leg - Barcelona hammered Jirí Zástera’s side 4-0 at Camp Nou and the return ended 1-1. Barça were pitted against Hamburg in their second consecutive semi-final. The Germans clinched the first leg 2-1 but an Evaristo winner in the return meant the Catalans were through on away goals. Barça were in the final in their second appearance but were pipped to the trophy, losing 3-2 to Benfica at the unfamous Wank-dorf stadion.

Wilderness years

It would be another 14 years before Barcelona qualified for the European Cup. In 1974-5, the 20th edition, the Blaugranas, with the two Johans: Cruyff and Neeskens made it to the semis after beating Linz, Feyenoord and Åtvidabergs. James Armfield’s rough and ready Leeds were the opponents - seasoned campaigners who were in their 10th straight season in European competition. The first leg at Elland Road ended 2-1 with Billy Bremner and Allan Clarke giving the English side a slight advantage to take to Camp Nou. It ended 1-1 a fortnight later and Barça were out once again.

There was another hiatus, an 11-year wait for the next European Cup outing. In 1985-6, with English clubs banned, Barcelona, led by the ineffable Terry Venables, cruised past Sparta Prague and Porto then knocked out the defending champions Juve. Swedish giants Göteborg stood in the way of the final. El Tel’s troops won both legs by three goals to nil but fell short in the final, losing to Steaua Bucharest on penalties.

Barcelona were back six years later in 1991-2, the first time a group stage was introduced and the last time the competition was known as the European Cup. While this edition didn’t actually feature quarter final or semi-final stages, Barcelona reached the equivalent - the third round group stage. They topped Group B. ahead of Sparta Prague, Benfica and Dynamo Kyiv. Glory at Wembley followed with Ronald Koeman’s unforgettable free-kick helping the Dream Team to get their mitts on the trophy for the first time.

Since then, Barça have taken part in every edition of the Champions League bar three (1995-6, 1996-7 and 2003-4), reaching the semi-finals a total of 12 times and going on to win the trophy four times (2005-6, 2008-9, 2010-11, 2014-15). The Blaugranas made it as far as the semis during six consecutive seasons between 2007-8 and 2012-13.

On the flip side, Barcelona did not made it to the semi-finals for four years running between 2019-20 and 2022-23 - their worst run of the Champions League era.