Ronald Koeman passed the first of a series of tests that will keep him in the head coach role at FC Barcelona, or not, with Sunday's 3-1 victory over his former club Valencia.
But far more important than that fixture is tonight's visit from Dynamo Kiev to the Camp Nou in the Champions League.
Usually at this stage in the competition three games in, a meeting with such a foe would be the perfect chance to add relatively easy points and all but secure qualification to the knockout phases.
But with two back-to-back 3-0 defeats to Bayern Munich and Benfica thus far home and away, Koeman's men still don't have a single one to their name and are at risk at not even securing third place which guarantees passage to the Europa League at this rate.
Drawing 1-1 to a Benfica side that dismantled the Blaugrana in Lisbon late last month, the Ukrainians are no mugs either and will be looking to take advantage of a side that is in one of the worst moments of its otherwise rich 120-year history.
Barca can at least take comfort in having faced these foes last season and beating them 2-1 at Camp Nou and 4-0 in Kiev.
But as per usual, Koeman continues to demonstrate a defeatist attitude in the media and complained yesterday at his pre-match press conference that "the big teams have gotten a lot better and Barça have dropped off".
"There are teams with more balanced squads of 23 internationals that have better finances. You can’t demand that we win the Champions League when you look at the other teams out there," he continued.
Even still, expected to help him try and notch a maiden win on the continent this afternoon is a team in a 4-3-3 formation.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen starting in goal, his back line will be made up of Jordi Alba, Clement Lenglet, Gerard Pique and Oscar Mingueza from left to right.
With Pedri still unfit and unavailable for El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday, skipper Sergio Busquets will act as pivot behind Frenkie de Jong and 17-year-old starlet Gavi.
Scoring in his first game from the outset against Valencia, Ansu Fati will man the left flank by central striker Memphis Depay's side as Sergino Dest continues as a right winger.