On Wednesday evening, thousands of Catalans turned out to see their new star illuminate the city. It was not a player for FC Barcelona, but a 5.5 tonne star which was unveiled at the top of the iconic Sagrada Familia cathedral. As the cathedral, which has been under construction for 139 years, reached new heights, another local institution with 121 years to its name, sunk to a modern low.
The city’s main football club were eliminated from the Champions League at the group stage for the first time since 2001 after a 3-0 defeat in a freezing Munich. Season 2003/04 was the last time Barcelona didn’t play Champions League football after finishing out of the top four in La Liga.
Barca might have to get used to it, and missing out on the money which comes with it – which is one reason they were desperate to join a European Super League and the promised riches.
That dream has been shattered for now and in the real world the Catalans are currently seveth in the table and six points off reigning Spanish champions Atletico in fourth. It’s going to be a struggle for them to get back into a competition where for 13 straight years they reached at least the last eight and were crowned champions of Europe in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015.
What did they expect? Barcelona scored only two goals in their six Champions League group games this season. When they last won the competition in 2014/15 they had scored 15 by the same stage, winning their group ahead of Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax. Those two have progressed to become two of the most talked about sides in football for the right reasons, while Barcelona have regressed into a well-documented mess and Xavi, who played in all of those Champions League title wins, is back to unpick it.
Xavi, 40, was furious after Wednesday’s defeat to the Germans. “I'm angry. This is the reality. We have to tackle it face on. There's nothing else for it. A new era starts today. We start from zero.”
Bayern v Barca player ratings
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Alphonso Davies: 8 - The left-back was a useful outlet for Bayern going forward, with Barcelona struggling to contain him when he got into his stride. He raced down the flank, beating a number of players before he crossed the ball to Musiala for a third goal. AFP -
Benjamin Pavard: 6 - The France international had a safe performance without causing any problems both defensively and offensively. He made one good block to deny Dembele on his side in the first-half. AFP -
Kingsley Coman: 7 - The winger had a good performance, causing issues for Alba and Mingueza during the game. He should have had an assist to his name, playing an unselfish pass to Sane just yards away from goal that he then missed. AP -
Corentin Tolisso: 6 - The 27-year-old rotated possession well at times but struggled defensively when beaten. He took a poor touch before fouling Dest in the first-half for one of his poorer moments in the game. EPA -
Leroy Sane: 8 - The former Manchester City winger wreaked havoc all evening and could have had more goals to his name. He scored a fantastic strike from outside the box. EPA -
Thomas Muller: 7 - The playmaker put in a classy performance, playing deft touches that kept the game flowing for Bayern. He also scored the opener, latching onto a cross from Lewandowski to give his side the lead. AFP -
Jamal Musiala: 7 - The 18-year-old played well, running late into the box to cause problems. He then scored a goal in the same way, finishing from Davies’ cross into him. Reuters -
Robert Lewandowski: 6 - The Polish international had an uncharacteristically quiet night, but still came out with an assist to his name. He did well to beat Pique before crossing for Muller’s opener. AFP -
SUBS: Marc Roca (For Tolisso 60’): 6 - The former Espanyol midfielder joined the game against his former rivals with the game drifting to its conclusion. He had a fine game, playing accurate passes on the ball to keep the game ticking. Getty -
Bouna Sarr (For Coman 71’): 6 - The 29-year-old joined the game as his side looked to see it out while resting some others. He had little to do, but played one key pass that resulted in a shot for Bayern. EPA -
Omar Richards (For Davies 71): 5 - The former Reading man came on and got himself involved very quickly. However, he was beaten too easily in one instance, resulting in giving away a foul and getting a yellow card. Getty -
Malik Tillman (For Lewandowski 78’): N/R - The 19-year-old made a short appearance, picking up the ball in deeper areas when he dropped from the forward positions. Getty -
Tanguy Nianzou (For Sule 78’): N/R - The young defender came on late and had little to do, only forced into making one challenge from a Barcelona attack. Getty -
BARCELONA RATINGS: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen: 4 - The Germany international had a poor game both with the ball and when making saves. He gave away the ball to Lewandowski early on that could have resulted in a goal, before he made a poor attempt to deny Sane from range. Reuters -
Jordi Alba: 6 - The full-back had a fine game before he was substituted off, doing his part defensively. He made an important clearance to deny Sane from scoring from close-range but injured himself in doing so. AFP -
Clement Lenglet: 5 - The 26-year-old had a busy evening, much like the rest of his backline. He could and should have done better to deny Muller’s header at the back post for the opener. Reuters -
Ronald Araujo: 4 - The 22-year-old struggled defensively, getting beaten far too easily. He picked up an early yellow in the game, taking out Davies who beat him on the flank with ease. AP -
Sergino Dest: 6 - The USMNT international looked bright at times, bringing unpredictability in his play down the right flank. In one move, he made a neat little move outside then inside to cross the ball to Depay. Getty -
Sergio Busquets: 4 - The midfielder was often beaten far too easily in the middle, giving far too much space behind him. He was walking a tightrope throughout the game, taking a yellow card just minutes into it after fouling Lewandowski to deny the forward from a ter Stegen error. AFP -
Gavi: 7 - The 17-year-old had a busy game, covering a lot of ground for his side but rarely getting a touch. His best chance was a run on the right that he cut back to Depay but nothing came from it. AFP -
Ousmane Dembele: 6 -The forward was Barcelona’s most dangerous outlet, but missed the end product to make it count. This was only exemplified when he did well to find space on the edge of the box, but blasted the shot over the bar. AP -
Memphis Depay: 5 - The forward had little service that fell his way during the game, struggling to get himself into the tie. His best piece of play was a dribble then pass to Dembele that the forward then skied. AFP -
SUBS: Oscar Mingueza (For Alba 30’): 5 - The full-back came on for the injured Alba and had issues containing Coman all night. He got a booking for taking out the winger and was beaten far too easily in the air by Muller for the opening goal. AFP -
Nico Gonzalez (For Dest 46’): 6 - The 19-year-old covered some good ground in the game coming from the bench as his side looked to bring themselves back into the tie. He managed to beat Richards with a piece of skill, before he was brought to the ground. Reuters -
Riqui Puig (For de Jong 73’): 6 - The youngster had little time on the pitch but covered a lot of ground in high areas, triggering the press for the side as they tried to find a glimmer of hope. AFP -
Philippe Coutinho (For Dembele 73’): 6 - The former Bayern loanee made a short appearance towards the end, with his one chance being a rather tame shot from the left straight at Neuer. AFP -
Yusuf Demir (For Gavi 86’): N/R - The loanee came on to preserve the legs of Gavi late on, having little time to do anything in his short cameo. AP
Bayern Munich were on another level in freezing temperatures at home where they haven’t lost in Europe since 2013, just as they were when they put eight past Barca to knock them out of the 2019/20 Champions League. It used to be the other way around, but as Bayern’s Thomas Müller said: “Barca cannot cope with the intensity. Technically and tactically, they have it all. But at the highest level, they cannot match the intensity of the game.”
Barca have lost too much talent to compete with the best. Their squad was too bloated with talent and high earners. They had the highest wage bill in football in 2019, but if you take out the goals and experience of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Antoine Griezmann, Neymar, Ivan Rakitic, Arturo Vidal, Rafinha et al and replace most with talented but inexperienced players, you’re going to drop several levels. Add in injuries and ill-fortune like signing Sergio Aguero, who can’t play because of a heart condition, and you have this Barcelona team in December 2021.
This isn’t on Xavi. He’s not been in the job for long enough to make the changes he wants and needs. He needs players back from injury and new signings in January. Barcelona – the city and the club – remains hugely attractive to footballers and they should rise again, but when? Before the Sagrada Familia is scheduled to be finished in 2026? And will the millions of converts attracted to them when they were the best team in the world stick around?
Aguero taken to hospital with chest pains
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Barcelona's Sergio Aguero leaves the pitch just before half time. Reuters -
Barcelona's Sergio Aguero after receiving medical treatment. Reuters -
Barcelona's Sergio Aguero goes down after signalling to the bench. Reuters -
Barcelona's Sergio Aguero, top right, heads the ball. AP Photo -
Barcelona's Sergio Aguero shoots at goal. Reuters -
Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero vies for the ball with Alaves defender Victor Laguardia. EPA -
Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero leaves the pitch. EPA -
Alaves' French defender Florian Lejeune challenges Barcelona's Dutch forward Memphis Depay. AFP -
Barcelona's Dutch forward Memphis Depay heads the ball. AFP -
Alaves' Spanish goalkeeper Antonio Sivera dives to stop Barcelona's Dutch forward Memphis Depay's shot. AFP -
Barcelona' forward Memphis Depay celebrates scoring the opening goal. AFP -
Alaves defender Florian Lejeune challenges Barcelona's Memphis Depay. AFP -
Barcelona's Memphis Depay vies with Alaves' Ximo Navarro. AFP -
Barcelona's Spanish coach Sergi Barjuan stands on the sideline. AFP -
Barcelona caretaker coach. Reuters -
Barcelona's Nicolas Gonzalez reacts after conceding their first goal scored by Alaves' Luis Rioja. Reuters -
Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen reacts after conceding their first goal. Reuters -
Barcelona defender Oscar Mingueza vies for the ball with Alaves' Luis Rioja. EPA
The members who own the club will vote again this month on redeveloping the ageing Camp Nou stadium, funded by a separate loan similar to the one brokered by Real Madrid, who are finalising the redevelopment of the Bernabéu. The men’s team will likely move to their expanded secondary stadium for a season or more, currently home of the best women’s team in football, but the bigger focus is on the men’s side – and it’s a fallen one because it has been run so poorly.
Asked after the game in Munich to explain the difference between Barcelona and Bayern Munich in recent years, veteran defender Gerard Pique said: "The management of the club. It's as simple as that." Barca overspent, recruited poorly, grew arrogant and greedy. People who’d loved them from afar, even if as a second club, began to loath them. And now it has all come crashing down.
Football will be poorer for a weaker Barcelona, a club still proudly owned by their members, but the reality is that Barca will now play Europa League football for the first time. They have the talent to win it, but it’s a young squad. Gavi was their best player in Munich, but he’s 17.
“Barca’s objective is the Champions League, not the Europa League,” said Xavi. “But our reality now is the Europa League and we have to win it.”
The prospect of a potential final in Seville shouldn’t be scoffed at for this is where Barcelona are now. Older fans realise that. They watched a club who won only one La Liga title between 1974 and 1991, while one of Barcelona’s most celebrated cup wins was the 1979 Cup Winners’ Cup final against Fortuna Dusseldorf. There’s a lounge named after that win at Camp Nou – along with the venues of all those Champions League triumphs.
Seville could invoke memories of the last time they played a European final there, the 1986 European Cup against Steaua Bucharest, which they lost on penalties.
The Europa League is more suited to Barca’s current level and it’s full of intrigue. Barca will be joined by Sevilla, the team which has dominated the competition with five wins since 2006, plus their city neighbours Real Betis and maybe compatriots and holders Villarreal. Not that anyone has much enthusiasm for the Europa League in Barcelona today.
