Barcelona to miss the knockout stages of Champions League
Five times European Champions Barcelona will not play in the knockout rounds of the Champions League for the first time in 18 years after a 3-0 loss to Bayern Munich.
This exit continues a miserable campaign for the Spanish giants after financial issues forced them to let club legend Lionel Messi leave on a free transfer and then join Paris St-Germain in the summer. Messi scored 672 goals, 305 assists in 778 games for Barcelona.
Barcelona drops into the Europa League playoffs after finishing third in Group E, after Benfica 2-0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the other game of the evening. The group stage began with a 3-0 loss to Bayern at Camp Nou, which got even worse after 3-0 loss to Benfica and 0-0 draw against Benfica. Barcelona scored only two goals in six games, both against last place Dynamo Kyiv, and conceded a total of 9 goals.
Bayern advances to the round of 16 with a 100 % record. Benfica finished on eight points behind Bayern. Barcelona finished the group stage with seven points.
Barcelona coach Xavi was not happy with his team’s exit from the Champions League. Xavi was recently made the team coach on a contract until 2024 replacing the sacked Ronald Koeman. Xavi played for Barcelona for 17 years making 767 appearances and winning 25 trophies, including four Champions League wins and eight league titles.
“I’m angry. This is the reality and it pisses me off. We have to tackle it face on. There’s nothing else for it. A new era starts today. We start from zero,” Xavi said in an interview.
Barcelona last failed to make the Champions League last 16 in 2003-04.
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