For the first time in over two a long time, Barcelona have suffered a Champions League organization-stage knockout. Fans will need to get used to the unexpected feeling of Thursday night games in a opposition the club has never played in since it become rebranded because the Europa League.
That trade may be the primary of many, as new teach Xavi noticed the dimensions of the rebuild wanted laid bare on Wednesday night time at a cold Allianz Arena.
The bloodless truth is this will be the remaining Wednesday night date in Europe Barca have for some time, because they have a combat on their hands to finish in the top four in La Liga and qualify for subsequent season’s Champions League.
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The 3-zero thrashing with the aid of Bayern Munich is simply the modern intestine-punch; the Catalans are reaping what they have got sown during the last few seasons, with the chief culprit former president Josep Maria Bartomeu. How have Barca fallen this some distance? “The management, it’s as easy as that,” stated Gerard Pique on Tuesday.
Disgraced leader Bartomeu led the membership to the edge of economic, economic and institutional crisis and that only worsens now, with the membership’s price range accounting for earnings for progressing to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Hopes of creating signings in January develop slimmer still with this removal, even as the membership’s hopes of locating €1.Five billion (£1.3bn/$1.7bn) in financing for his or her new Espai Barca task can also be damaged.
Xavi looked on with a grimace at the touchline, impotent within the face of Bayern’s casual show of pressure, although this removal was continually likely regardless of his positivity approximately the membership’s chances.
The three-0 defeats towards Bayern and Benfica earlier in the institution degree gave Barcelona an uphill mission, which the numerous injuries they have got suffered compounded.
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