MUNICH (Reuters) -Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday, failing to make it previous the group stage of the competitors for the primary time because the 2000-01 season.
First-half targets from Thomas Mueller and Leroy Sane put the Germans, who gained all six matches to prime Group E, firmly within the driving seat earlier than Jamal Musiala tapped within the third simply previous the hour.
Barcelona had superior to at least the spherical of 16 each time they competed within the Champions League since 2001 however will proceed within the second tier Europa League after ending up third within the group. Benfica certified as group runners-up with a win over backside membership Dynamo Kyiv.
Barca, who made not a single likelihood within the second half and scored simply twice in six group video games, have misplaced their final two matches in all competitions following new coach Xavi’s first defeat in cost of the aspect by Real Betis on Saturday.
“Bayern had been higher, superior,” Xavi stated. “This is the tough actuality now we have to face. I’ve advised gamers that it is a turning-point. Today a brand new period begins and now we have to take Barca the place it deserves which isn’t the Europa League.
“I’m annoyed as a result of that is our actuality. We begin from scratch and now we have to get Barca again to combating for the Champions League. I now really feel accountable. Now now we have to go out and win the Europa League.”
Despite having secured prime spot within the group, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann fielded his strongest attainable staff, refusing to relaxation prime gamers after they beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 within the Bundesliga on Saturday.
The German champions had been struggling defensively, preserving only one clear sheet of their final eight matches previous to Wednesday.
Jordi Alba examined Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer with a long-range effort within the seventh minute and Ousmane Dembele fired over the bar because the Spaniards initially pressed excessive. But that was all that was to come back from the Barca assault for the remainder of the sport because the Germans steadily took management.
A scintillating Mueller run down the left caught Barca napping however his cutback got here simply too late for Robert Lewandowski who did not faucet in from a metre.
The roles had been reversed with Lewandowski chipping the ball into the field and Mueller heading in his fiftieth Champions League objective within the thirty fourth minute, changing into solely the eighth participant in Champions League historical past to achieve that mark.
Bayern scored once more earlier than the break with a Sane missile from 25 metres out. Barcelona, who wanted a win to advance, did not carve out an opportunity within the second half earlier than Musiala’s 62nd minute tap-in sealed their exit.
(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann, modifying by Ed Osmond)
