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Barcelona's miserable 2021-22 UEFA Champions League campaign hit a new low to end on the same note last night. The Catalans were routed 3-0 by group leaders Bayern Munich, the same margin of defeat Barcelona suffered on Matchday 1 at the Camp Nou in September.
It brought a premature end to the Blaugrana's sojourn, with the side crashing out of the premier European competition after finishing third in the group. Benfica won 2-0 against Kyiv in the other game to end up second and progress into the last-16 at Barcelona's expense.
Xavi Hernandez, who replaced the ousted Ronald Koeman, couldn't steer the sinking ship, although this was a mess that was always going to take time to clear up. With a torrid run now behind them, the Catalans will now have to contend with Europa League ignominy, a competition they're suddenly not too big to participate in.
But to fully grasp how poor Barcelona were in the Champions League this season, take a look at these seven mind-blowing stats:
#7 Barcelona won the fewest Champions League group stage matches in their history
Barcelona had never won fewer than three group-stage games before, until this season. The Blaugrana only won twice in six outings, with both 1-0 victories coming against Dynamo Kyiv on successive Matchdays.
It restored normalcy in their campaign to some extent after back-to-back 3-0 losses to Bayern at home and Benfica away.
There have been sides in the past who've progressed into the last-16 despite winning only twice. However, the Catalans didn't enjoy such luck and deservedly crashed out due to results in the other games.
#6 Barcelona lost three group matches for the first time
Bayern's 3-0 drubbing of Barcelona was their third defeat of the Champions League season, having lost their first two matches by identical scorelines. It was also their highest number of defeats in a single group stage campaign of the competition, having only lost twice at the max before (2004-05 season).
Barcelona equalled their worst losing tally after just two games this season following back-to-back humiliations against Bayern and Benfica. However, last night, the Catalans hit a new low, losing three group matches for the first time in their illustrious Champions League history.
#5 Barcelona lost opening two group matches for the first time
Barcelona lost both of their opening Champions League games of a season for the first time this year. Additionally, their loss to Bayern on Matchday 1 marked their first opening day loss since a 3-2 defeat to Newcastle United in 1997.
However, some expected them to bounce back at Benfica in their second match, but the Portuguese side secured a resounding 3-0 victory. It was the first time in the competition's history that Barcelona were left without a point to show after the first two games of a season.
#4 Barcelona collected the fewest points in the three-points era of the Champions League
Barcelona accumulated only seven points in the group stages this season, courtesy of consecutive wins over Kyiv and a goalless draw with Benfica.
It is unsurprising though; when you've lost the most number of times in history and won the least, you've naturally collected the fewest number of points as well.
That was their lowest tally in the competition since it was reformatted in 2003, the year they made it three points for a win instead of two. In fact, the Catalans had never finished in single-digits until this year.
The only time Barcelona collected fewer points was in the 1994-95 season with six, although back then, only two points were awarded for a win.
#3 Barcelona conceded the most goals
Barcelona's defensive issues over the last few years have been well-documented. They hit a new low this season and ended up conceding their highest number of goals in a Champions League group stage with nine.
Six of them came against Bayern alone, who secured a pair of 3-0 wins home and away, while Benfica also managed to put three past them in a shocking defeat.
Previously, their worst defensive record came in the 2008-09 season when they let in eight goals. Ironically, they won their first treble in that campaign.
#2 Barcelona scored the fewest group-stage goals
With just two goals in six group matches, Barcelona registered the worst attacking record in their Champions League history. For a side like this, that number is beyond shocking, as the Catalans have been genuinely toothless in attack this season.
As aforesaid, those goals came against Kyiv, one in each of their encounters. They drew a blank in all other games. Only Dynamo Kyiv and Malmo scored fewer than the La Liga side in this season's group stages.
It was also the first time that Barcelona failed to find the back of the net in four group stage matches in a single Champions League campaign.
#1 Barcelona fail to reach knockout stages for the first time since 2000
Barcelona always managed to reach the knockout stages in the Lionel Messi-era. But in their first year without their legendary No.10, they crashed out in the group stages itself.
Is this any co-incidence? It could be, but this is their earliest exit from the competition since the 2000-01 season.
Back then, the side finished third in a group featuring AC Milan, Leeds United and Besiktas. They then went into the UEFA Cup (now the UEFA Europa League), where they lost out in the semi-finals to Liverpool.
How far can Barcelona go in the Europa League this time?
