<<Print>>

From the highs of two recent trebles to the lows of Europa League football, Barca are no longer among the game's elite.

For the first time in over two decades, Barcelona have suffered a Champions League group-stage knockout. Fans will have to get used to the unfamiliar feeling of Thursday night games in a competition the club has never played in since it was rebranded as the Europa League.

That change will be the first of many, as new coach Xavi saw the scale of the rebuild needed laid bare on Wednesday night at a chilly Allianz Arena.

The cold truth is this may be the last Wednesday night date in Europe Barca have for some time, because they have a fight on their hands to finish in the top four in La Liga and qualify for next season’s Champions League.