I think the steps of a team in the Champions League stage are determined in the group position, if you join relatively easy clubs then the next step will also be smooth. For now, Barca's strength has not really been read because it is only the beginning of the season in the Domestic League while the UCL is still at the Play Off stage. However, with the addition of players like Gundogan, it is hoped that Xavi's squad can go further in the UCL this season.
All team strengths will be clearly read when the group stage has started or is taking place this season. Because for now, we cannot assess all the teams how strong they have this season, even though each team already has new players and might become a mainstay of the team to bring about a change in strength in their squad.
There are still many who place Barca in the list of favorites with other big teams, perhaps the historical and mental factors they have are the things that underlie these various assumptions.
If there are assumptions for historical factors, because Barcelona is a team that has been in operation for a very long time, but for mental factors I think other teams like Real Madrid also have the mentality of winning the Champions League even though last season Real Madrid failed to win the Champions League.
Even if they can play well in the group stage, but still there is no guarantee that they will continue to qualify easily. Because after all, even if they can qualify for the round of 16 but in reality, many leading teams or many favorite teams also fail in the knockout stage like in the round of 16. Therefore, it doesn't matter whether they are group winners or become runners up group, because to reaching the final match in the Champions League will certainly never be easy. Also, I don't care about Barcelona past history. Because anyway, Barcelona history in the last two seasons is also very very bad and at least, it will be difficult to rise in bad situations and conditions like Barcelona experienced in the moment.