• Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks broken after the 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich. Reuters
    Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks broken after the 8-2 defeat by Bayern Munich. Reuters
  • Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after the 8-2 humiliation. AP
    Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after the 8-2 humiliation. AP
  • Thomas Muller celebrates giving Bayern a 1-0 lead. Reuters
    Thomas Muller celebrates giving Bayern a 1-0 lead. Reuters
  • Lionel Messi after the match. Reuters
    Lionel Messi after the match. Reuters
  • Bayern Munich celebrate. EPA
    Bayern Munich celebrate. EPA
  • Barcelona star Lionel Messi's future at the club will now be under scrutiny. Reuters
    Barcelona star Lionel Messi's future at the club will now be under scrutiny. Reuters
  • Bayern Munich players celebrate after the astonishing win. EPA
    Bayern Munich players celebrate after the astonishing win. EPA
  • Barcelona coach Quique Setien. EPA
    Barcelona coach Quique Setien. EPA
  • Bayern Munich's David Alaba scores an own goal to make the score 1-1. Reuters
    Bayern Munich's David Alaba scores an own goal to make the score 1-1. Reuters
  • Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic (L) celebrates putting Bayern 2-1 ahead. AFP
    Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic (L) celebrates putting Bayern 2-1 ahead. AFP
  • Serge Gnabry (L) after making the score 1-3. EPA
    Serge Gnabry (L) after making the score 1-3. EPA
  • Thomas Mueller celebrates after making it 1-4. Reuters
    Thomas Mueller celebrates after making it 1-4. Reuters
  • Luis Suarez, right, gives Barca brief hope after pulling a goal back, 2-4. PA
    Luis Suarez, right, gives Barca brief hope after pulling a goal back, 2-4. PA
  • Joshua Kimmich makes it 2-5. EPA
    Joshua Kimmich makes it 2-5. EPA
  • Robert Lewandowski on target for 2-6. Reuters
    Robert Lewandowski on target for 2-6. Reuters
  • Bayern Munich's Philippe Coutinho gets in on the act, and it's 2-7. Reuters
    Bayern Munich's Philippe Coutinho gets in on the act, and it's 2-7. Reuters
  • Coutinho again, and the Barca nightmare is over, final score 2-8. AP
    Coutinho again, and the Barca nightmare is over, final score 2-8. AP

'We have hit rock bottom': Barca stars humiliated as Lionel Messi's future comes under scrutiny after Bayern score eight - in pictures


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Defender Gerard Pique described Barcelona's 8-2 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Bayern Munich as a "disgrace" and "embarrassing" and claimed the club had "hit rock bottom".

Thomas Mueller and Philippe Coutinho - on loan from Barca - both scored twice as the German double winners blew them away in a ruthless display that will prompt serious questions over Lionel Messi's future in Spain.

Ivan Perisic, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski were also on target for Bayern, with Barca's goals coming via a David Alaba own goal and a second-half strike from Luis Suarez.

"We have hit rock bottom. This is not the first, nor the second, nor the third time. We are not on the right path," said Pique.

"Coaches and players follow one another, but it has been several years since we have been able to be competitive on a European level.

"We all have to think internally and decide what is best for the club, for Barca. Tonight was unacceptable for Barcelona."

Pique added on the club's website: "It was a horrible game, the feeling is terrible, embarrassing is the word.

"We can't compete like that, you can't play like that in Europe. I hope it is useful for something.

"Now everyone has to have a good look at themselves, the club needs change and I am not talking about the coach or the players, I am not pointing the finger at anyone.

"Nobody is safe, I am the first to say that I will go if new blood has to come in, I am the first to leave.

"We have to have a real look internally about what is best for the club."

President Josep Maria Bartomeu insisted changes have already been planned for next season, and will be confirmed next week.

As well as a likely new manager, Barcelona's 2021 presidential elections could even be brought forward.

"It has been a very, very tough night. I am sorry for the Barca fans and members, for the players, for everyone," said Bartomeu.

"We were not the club that we represent, I am so sorry.

"There are some decisions that we had already made, and others that we will make over the next days.

"Announcements will be made from next week, we need to make decisions after things have calmed down.

"It was a devastating result. I congratulate Bayern, they played a great game and deserved to go to the semi-finals.

"We were not up to the occasion and we can only apologise to the members and fans."

Barca coach Quique Setien offered no indication that he would resign, but it seems inevitable he will be replaced.

"It's too soon to think about whether or not I will continue," Setien said. "It doesn't depend on me. There needs to be a wider reflection, taking into account the situation and the importance of this defeat which is so painful."

RESULT

Liverpool 4 Southampton 0
Jota (2', 32')
Thiago (37')
Van Dijk (52')

Man of the match: Diogo Jota (Liverpool)

Dunbar
Edward St Aubyn
Hogarth

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')

Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
South Africa squad

Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.

RACE CARD

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.

If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
RESULT

Fifth ODI, at Headingley

England 351/9
Pakistan 297
England win by 54 runs (win series 4-0)