CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
For the first time since 2000/2001, FC Barcelona have failed to reach the knock out stage of the UEFA Champions League following the Catalans 3-0 defeat at Bayern Munich last night.
Barcelona finished third on seven points behind Group E winners Bayern Munich (18 points) and runners up Benfica on eight points.
The five-time European champions had reached the Champions League last 16 in every one of the past 17 seasons.
Barcelona needed to match Benfica’s result to advance in this season’s tournament, but the Portuguese side won 2-0 at home to Dynamo Kyiv.
Now, they will be watching from outside in 2022 when the knock out phase begins. The last time that happened was way back in the 2003/04 season, when Barca had only finished sixth in La Liga and competed instead in the UEFA Cup. It is their first time to compete in the rebranded Europa League.
Before the game at the Allianz Arena, pundits had predicted the mission as an impossible one for the Catalans. Barcelona have been unable to overcome their woes on and off the pitch.
Bayern scored their first when Robert Lewandowski’s cross found Thomas Muller and his header just crossed the line.
The hosts doubled their lead thanks to a superb 30-yard strike from former Manchester City forward Leroy Sane.
While Jamal Musiala added a third goal in the second half with a routine finish after a pull-back from Alphonso Davies on an embarrassing evening for Barcelona.
They have continued a miserable campaign 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.
Since Messi’s departure, Ronald Koeman was sacked as manager in October before former midfielder Xavi returned to the Nou Camp, with Barca currently seventh in La Liga.
