Barcelona have been knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage for the second successive season following Inter Milan’s 4-0 win over Viktoria Plzen.
Xavi’s side needed Plzen to spring a surprise to keep alive their slim hopes of reaching the knockout stage after a 3-3 draw against Inter last time out left them on the brink.
But goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Edin Dzeko (2) and Romelu Lukaku in Wednesday’s early Group C game meant Barcelona’s fate was sealed before they kicked off against Bayern Munich.
Barcelona, who went on to lose 3-0 against Bayern, crashed out of Europe’s top club competition at the first hurdle last season, with economic vice-president Eduard Romeu admitting early elimination last term cost the club €12million.
The Spanish heavyweights pulled a series of economic ‘levers’ to sign and register players like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde this summer in a bid to restore their fortunes on and off the pitch.
But a return to the less lucrative Europa League is likely to have further financial ramifications.
Xavi’s side suffered another setback when they were beaten 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Clasico earlier this month.
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