Barça hit rock bottom against Bayern in their goodbye to the Champions League
Xavi’s men consummate their banishment to the Europa League with another painful setback (0-3) against the group leader
BARCELONA, 26 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
FC Barcelona lost this Wednesday against Bayern Munich (0-3) on the fifth day of the Champions League group stage, and its penultimate night of ‘Champions’ when they were eliminated and relegated to the Europa League after their stumble and the victory of Inter Milan.
Barça’s future in Europe depended on Inter Milan and the ‘neroazzurris’ complied to secure their ticket to the round of 16. Three points that left Xavi’s men eliminated in the group stage, before jumping to the Spotify Camp Nou, and with the duty of fulfilling their fans and recovering at least their pride against their villain in recent years.
The miracle did not come true in the San Siro, but neither did it in Barcelona. A painful reality in their banishment to the ‘Europa League’, which they will face for the second consecutive year after their last night in the ‘Champions’ -with nothing at stake- against bottom side Viktoria Plzen.
The Bavarians have been present in the recent European debacles of the ‘culés’ and this time history once again kept a transcendental role for them in the last chapter of setbacks. First the devastating 8-2 in the ‘Final 8’ in 2020, then the double 3-0 that endorsed them last season and two other defeats this year to make them hit rock bottom.
The heroism also went through beating Bayern, a drama that was evident on the pitch when they went behind the scoreboard after ten minutes with a goal from Sadio Mané. Hector Bellerín couldn’t help it, who returned to the eleven after overcoming his soleus discomfort, unable to cope with the long stride of the Senegalese, who took advantage of a filtered pass from Gnabry to beat him and beat Ter Stegen.
Barça was risking its self-esteem and the image – imperceptible to date – of competing face to face with the leader of the group, which hampered the game of the locals, in an initial duel without rhythm due to the constant faults of the Germans. But the objective vanished in just half an hour with another lethal blow from Choupo-Moting.
Bayern showed that the Barcelona wound was not healed and unleashed chaos again at a Camp Nou diluted under the Bavarian snow and under an imposing team in the area. The great pending task of Xavi in ??the crucial games and that he did not make an exception this Wednesday.
Not even the VAR could remedy the tragedy in favor of Barça interests, so it canceled a possible penalty against Lewandowski before the break. The impotence of the fans became a whistle to the arbitration body for blurring the only clear opportunity for Barça, in the entire first half, to reduce the distance on the scoreboard.
The lack of identity in Europe once again took its toll on Xavi’s men. Voluntary, but not very effective, paddling against the current again, and aimlessly with 45 minutes to go against the German hegemony in the group of ‘death’.
Robert Lewandowski also could not do his part to make up the chaos. The Pole was again neutralized before his former teammates, in the same way as Pedri, missing in action at a Barça given another day to Ousmane Dembélé, the most active and unable to convert his ‘sparks’ into goals.
The hecatomb once again alerted the football misfortune of the Catalan team, which seemed to suffer the third setback with a blow from Gnabry canceled for offside. With no room for error, and with nothing at stake, Xavi replaced Sergio Busquets and Pedri with Ferran Torres and Raphinha. A change without major impact on the harmless local game.
The only one capable of earning the acclaimed ovation of the public, despite the result, was Ansu Fati, luxury revulsive and relegated one more night to the bench. The more than 80,000 spectators ended up encouraging the team, who continued to try without success for the goal of honor, with Pablo Torre and without Lewandowski on the field with ten minutes remaining.
The final blow would come on the last play of the match. Pavard put the third and final at the end of Nagelsmann’s scoreboard, who caught the defense unexpectedly after a rebound that served to close his superiority in style.
Another night to turn the page and think about LaLiga Santander, the regular competition that seems to adapt better to the characteristics of FC Barcelona, ??without encouragement in Europe and with the obligation to recover the illusion with the second course: the ‘Europa League’ that He already fueled the inconsistency of Xavi’s men last year.
–RESULT: FC BARCELONA, 0 – BAYERN MUNICH, 3 (0-2, at halftime).
FC BARCELONA: Ter Stegen; Bellerin, Koundé (Eric Garcia, min.68), Marcos Alonso, Bucket; Busts (Ferran Torres, min.58), De Jong, Kessie; Pedri (Raphinha, 58th minute), Dembele (Ansu Fati, 68th minute) and Lewandowski (Pablo Torre, 83rd minute).
BAYERN MUNICH: Ulreich; Mazraoui, Upamecano (Pavard, min.63), De Ligt, Davies; Kimmich, Goretzka (Sabitzer, min. 46); Gnabry, Musiala (Gravenberch, min. 67), Mane; y Choupo-Moting (Müller, min. 62).
0-1, minute 9. Mané.
0-2, minuto 30. Choupo-Moting.
0-3, minute. 90 5. Pavard.
–REFEREE: Anthony Taylor (GBR). He booked Busquets (min.41), for FC Barcelona and Mazraoui (min.16), Goretzka (min.23), Upamecano (min.35) at Bayern Munich.
–STADIUM: Spotify Camp Nou (84,016 spectators)
