Barcelona crash out of Champions League after Bayern Munich defeat as Benfica win

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Jonathan Gorrie8 December 2021

For the first time in two decades, Barcelona will be playing Europa League football.

While their 3-0 loss at the hands of Bayern Munich was not quite as embarrassing as the 8-2 defeat in Lisbon around 18 months ago now, it was a bleak night in the club’s history as their decline hit a new low. Benfica, meanwhile, dispatched Dynamo Kiev with ease.

Indeed, what was perhaps the most dispiriting about Wednesday night’s performance was how little they troubled the home side. Despite some early pressing, Barca failed to create much in the way of clear-cut chances and Bayern were able to play at an almost walking pace at times.

In truth, the game looked over when Thomas Muller looped in a header from a Robert Lewandowski (who endured a rare off-night) cross in the 34th minute and Leroy Sane’s rasping second just before half-time all-but confirmed it.

Jamal Musiala added a third to condemn Barcelona to Europe’s second-tier competition and, with them lying seventh in La Liga, it could be a while until we see Xavi grace the Champions League again.

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