FC Barcelona

Bayern Munich closed out its group stage of the UEFA Champions League with a 3-0 home victory over Barcelona on Wednesday at Allianz Arena.

Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala all scored to help the German club coast to three points.

Bayern had already sealed first place in Group E by winning its first five matches. Barcelona, on the other hand, owned a slim two-point edge over Benfica, so anything other than a win opened the door for the Portuguese club to catapult itself into second place.

With Benfica's 2-0 win over Dynamo Kyiv, Barca failed to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time since 2003-04.

Neither Bayern nor Barcelona got on the scoresheet by the time Roman Yaremchuk and Gilberto gave Benfica a 2-0 lead.

Benfica 2-0 Dynamo Kyiv

Barça fans: pic.twitter.com/dVO9DkfidK

— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 8, 2021

Things didn't get much better for Barca in the 31st minute as Jordi Alba was forced to exit through injury. Shortly thereafter, Muller put Bayern ahead.

Robert Lewandowski kept Gerard Pique at a distance and floated the ball toward the back post. Muller didn't make great contact, but his header crossed the goal line before right back Ronald Araujo could make the clearance.

THOMAS MULLER LOVES SCORING AGAINST BARCELONA 😏 pic.twitter.com/pV08jK2ptX

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 8, 2021

It wasn't a goal against the run of play since Barcelona were chasing Bayern for much of the first 30 minutes. Bayern going ahead felt an inevitability.

Barca are a shambles. A half-paced Bayern getting through with every attack.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) December 8, 2021

Sane doubled Bayern Munich's lead in the 43rd minute in a moment that encapsulated how Wednesday simply wasn't Barcelona's night. Sane's shot had a combination of power and movement that made it somewhat difficult to track, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen's effort to make the save was surprisingly poor.

LEROY SANE. WOW. 🚀 pic.twitter.com/NKda1nV8dW

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 8, 2021

A comeback looked unlikely when Barcelona trailed by just two goals. Musiala put the final nail in the coffin in the 62nd minute when he scored from close range.

This outcome was entirely foreseeable for Barcelona. The club has been a mess behind the scenes for years, and it no longer has Lionel Messi to paper over the cracks of an aging, flawed squad on the field. Sixteen points separate La Liga leader Real Madrid from Barca, in seventh place.

Perhaps Xavi, who was appointed manager a month ago, will be the next Pep Guardiola over time and usher in a new era of dominance domestically and abroad. However, the 41-year-old remains unproven at this level, and there's only so much he can do to address the long-standing problems that have lingered at the Camp Nou.

On the other side, Bayern demonstrated why it's one of the strongest contenders in the Champions League field.

This was a comprehensive performance from the nine-time reigning Bundesliga champions. They limited their opponents to two shots on target and completed 71 more passes.

Most impressively, Bayern didn't seem to be operating at its full capacity yet maintained control for almost all 90 minutes.

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What's Next?

Bayern awaits the results of Monday's round-of-16 draw. The German giant will be a seeded team by virtue of winning the group. By finishing third, Barcelona will fall into the Europa League.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta isn't so sure Lionel Messi has played his last game in a Barca shirt.

The club officially welcomed Dani Alves back Wednesday after he had left in 2016. Using the Brazilian as an example, Laporta entertained the idea of Messi and fellow legend Andres Iniesta returning as well, per ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens:

I can't rule it out. ... Leo and Andres are two spectacular players. I can't predict the future. They are Barca greats and who made this club what it is and they will always be present, but they're players with contracts with other clubs. That must be respected, but in life you never know.

Messi turned 34 in June. While his physical skills have diminished slightly, 70 or 80 percent of peak Messi is still better than a lot of players around the world.

In his first season with Paris Saint-Germain, the six-time Ballon d'Or winner is still waiting on his first Ligue 1 goal, but he has scored three times in three Champions League appearances.

Perhaps there's a point a few years down the road where Barcelona's finances will accommodate re-signing Messi. Laporta referenced the "financial sacrifice" required by Alves to secure his signature.

And in general, the idea of Messi once again representing the Blaugrana isn't any more outlandish than Cristiano Ronaldo re-signing with Manchester United.

However, Ronaldo's reunion with the Red Devils provides one reason why this might be a bad idea—assuming it becomes anything more than an unlikely theoretical.

The Portuguese has scored some critical goals for United, but he has also presented a general tactical problem for manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. One can't help but wonder whether his late-game heroics wouldn't be required in the first place if Solskjaer had a more balanced squad.

And that's to say nothing of how Ronaldo has somewhat overshadowed Jadon Sancho and Mason Greenwood.

If Barcelona were to bring Messi back, then whoever is the manager at that time might be faced with a dilemma. Accommodating the role he would presumably command based on his profile may not be the best route to get Barca back to the pinnacle of European football.

Turki Al-Ali, the CEO of Qatari football club Al-Sadd, announced Friday they've reached an agreement to allow manager Xavi to leave the team to take over at Barcelona.

The Spanish side paid an undisclosed amount to trigger a release clause so Xavi, who played most of his decorated club career with Barca, could return to Camp Nou:

Turki Al-Ali: Xavi informed us a few days ago of his desire to go to Barcelona at this particular time, because of the critical stage his hometown club is going through, and we understand this and decided not to stand in his way.#AlSadd

— 🏆 #80 Al Sadd SC | نادي السد (@AlsaddSC) November 5, 2021

Xavi joined Barcelona's famed youth academy, La Masia, in 1991 at the age of 11, and he didn't leave the club until 2015 after more than 700 appearances for the first team.

The playmaker was often the engine who made the Blaugrana's attack run, a role he also played to near perfection for the Spanish national team.

His list of accolades includes eight La Liga and four Champions League trophies at Barca along with the 2010 World Cup title with and two European Championships with Spain.

Xavi joined Al-Sadd as a player in 2015 and transitioned into the role of manager in 2019. He guided the side to the Qatar Stars League title last season.

The 41-year-old Barca legend confirmed Wednesday he was hoping a deal would get worked out that would allow him to take over as the storied club's manager:

It's a question of common sense, and in the end it has to happen. I am excited. I'm really looking forward to returning home. I hope it happens. It would be spectacular to coach Barca. The two clubs are in conversations. I can't say a lot more, but I'm a positive person. They have to reach an agreement. That's where it's at. The two clubs know my position and I hope there is a solution soon.

Barcelona is off to a sluggish start to the 2021-22 term, which led manager Ronald Koeman to being sacked in late October. It sits ninth in the La Liga table having won four and lost four of its opening 11 matches, and it's staring down a critical UCL fixture against Benfica on Nov. 23 that will play a key role in determining which side advances to the knockout rounds.

It's unlikely the managerial change will be finalized in time for Xavi to take over for Saturday's La Liga clash with Celta Vigo, so interim coach Sergi Barjuan will likely remain in place for one more game. Then Xavi will have the two-week international break to get settled.

The longtime midfielder will then be tasked with moving Barcelona back toward consistent trophy contention as part of a new era that began in earnest over the summer when Lionel Messi left for Paris Saint-Germain.

Barcelona announced the firing of manager Ronald Koeman on Wednesday following a 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano, a result that dropped them to ninth on La Liga's table with just 15 points from 10 matches. 

Per the club's statement, "Koeman will say goodbye to the squad on Thursday at the Ciutat Esportiva. FC Barcelona wishes to thank him for his service to the Club and wishes him all the best in his professional career."

Barcelona's struggles this season has extended beyond La Liga play. The team is also third in its Champions League group, with just three points in three games, behind Bayern Munich (nine points) and Benfica (four points). 

Last season was a disappointment as well. Barcelona finished third in La Liga behind rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid and was eliminated from the Champions League in the Round of 16, though they did win the Copa del Rey. 

But major changes to Barcelona's roster—most notably the exit of superstar Lionel Messi—left the proud Catalan giants in something of a disarray. Koeman was unable to steer that wayward ship into calmer waters. 

The 58-year-old should land on his feet, however, after an extensive managerial career that has included stops at Ajax (2001–05), Benfica (2005-06), Valencia (2007-08), Southampton (2014-16), Everton (2016-17) and the Dutch national team (2018-20), among others. 

With his sacking, the next major question will be who Barcelona hires as his replacement. Amongst the candidates appear to be River Plate's Marcelo Gallardo, former Barcelona superstar and current Al Sadd manager Xavi and Belgium national team manager Roberto Martinez:

The big question is whether Gallardo would go, of course. He has a pick of clubs when he decides to move to Europe, and could select something with much better structure.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) October 27, 2021

Marcelo Gallardo has been linked with European jobs for years. He'd be an interesting choice, but he's under contract and will likely take time to get him out (assuming they can). So I imagine if Koeman does go, Barca will get some internal interim guy. https://t.co/qTH2zb7jRq

— Gabriele Marcotti (@Marcotti) October 27, 2021

Spanish sources claiming that Ronald Koeman has indeed been sacked by Barcelona following their loss to Rayo Vallecano. Pressure mounts to try and persuade Xavi to take the job. He has turned down numerous approaches in the last month to return to the Camp Nou.

— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) October 27, 2021

Xavi is still considered the favourite to takeover Barcelona job. He’d love to comeback as announced recently - Barça board already made contacts with Xavi weeks ago. Still waiting to proceed on talks. 🔴🇪🇸 #FCB

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez was in the list too.

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 27, 2021

There’s no announcement in place yet for Koeman replacement at Barcelona. It’s gonna take few hours while negotiations are ongoing for Xavi to leave Al Sadd & become the new manager. 🔴🇪🇸 #FCB #Xavi

Other candidates for Barça job also know Xavi is the favourite, as things stand. pic.twitter.com/1LaHsGkNDc

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 27, 2021

Getting this hire right is crucial for a Barcelona club that has continued to move in the wrong direction in recent years. Nobody expected a post-Messi world to be an easy adjustment. It takes a village to replace the GOAT. 

But Barcelona have fallen on harder times than expectations at the club will allow. Koeman bears the brunt of that responsibility for now, but if an incoming manager struggles to move this current group of players in the right direction, the gaze of accountability may focus higher up the food chain. 

Real Madrid continued its recent dominance in El Clasico with a 2-1 win over Barcelona Sunday at the Camp Nou.

The win is Real Madrid's fourth straight against its rival in La Liga matches.

David Alaba scored the opening goal for Los Blancos, while Lucas Vazquez eventually sealed the win with a second goal in extra time.

Sergio Aguero scored a consolation for Barcelona, but it was too late to prevent Real Madrid from earning a key three points in the hunt for a league title. 

It was the first El Clasico without Lionel Messi since 2007, and Barcelona went home empty-handed.

The match began slowly with a conservative approach from both sides, but Real Madrid struck first with a brilliant counterattack and finish by Alaba:

Alaba's first Real Madrid goal comes in El Clasico 🚀#ElClásicoESPN+ pic.twitter.com/dy350kLZng

— ESPN (@espn) October 24, 2021

Rodrygo earned the assist on a great find to the open center back, who rocketed past the keeper in the top corner.

This was the only goal of the first half, but Barcelona had chances.

Sergino Dest had the best look for the Blaugrana in the opening 45 minutes with a open shot that he sailed over the crossbar:

Dest misses a sitter! pic.twitter.com/M2LBXQ2UIP

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 24, 2021

https://twitter.com/stuholden/status/1452284315258298383

Dest just had the miss of the season.... Guy scores a weak foot rocket in WCQ and can't finish a tap in

— Martino Puccio (@MartinoPuccio) October 24, 2021

Barcelona had six shots in the first half but were unable to find the net. Gerard Pique also had a chance with a header:

PIQUE ALMOST HAD THE EQUALIZER 🤯#ElClásicoESPN+ pic.twitter.com/TTU3zEPQ4s

— ESPN+ (@ESPNPlus) October 24, 2021

Barcelona stayed aggressive in the second half but had few real chances because of a lack of creativity in the final third. The hosts finished with just two shots on target in the match. 

The addition of Aguero in the 74th minute gave the attack more life, although it wasn't enough to even the match.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, played solid defense before using their speed on counters. Vinicius Junior kept pressure on throughout the second half down the left side.

Vazquez eventually put the game out of reach in the 94th on another counterattack after a great run from Marco Asensio. 

Great performance at right fullback from Lucas Vazquez. Incredible stamina. Earns some well-deserved glory.

— Felipe Cárdenas (@FelipeCar) October 24, 2021

I'm so happy for Lucas Vazquez. He's put in such a lot of work today and the goal is a good reward #HalaMadrid #ElClasico

— We the Unwilling (@Amegaxi) October 24, 2021

Dest slightly made up for his earlier miss with an assist to Aguero in the 97th minute, but it was too little, too late.

Aguero's first Barcelona goal comes in El Clasico 👏 pic.twitter.com/ukIl22s434

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 24, 2021

Both clubs will return to action for midweek La Liga battles on Wednesday. Barcelona will face Rayo Vallecano while Real Madrid hosts Osasuna.  

Barcelona midfielder Pedri has signed a new contract through 2026 with a release clause of €1 billion ($1.16 billion), the club announced Thursday. 

The 18-year-old's previous deal was set to expire at the end of the season. According to ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens, Barcelona made signing Pedri to a new contract a priority. 

💎 @Pedri to sign new contract this Friday #DreamTeen

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 14, 2021

Pedri began his professional career with Las Palmas when he was just 16 years old. He joined Barcelona in early 2020 for €5 million and immediately joined Barca's senior squad.

The highly talented youngster made 52 appearances during his debut season with the Blaugrana in 2020-21. He scored four goals and was promoted to Spain's senior international team in March. 

Pedri was also included in Luis Enrique's team for Euro 2020 and won the Young Player of the Tournament prize. In addition, he played for Spain at the Tokyo Olympics, helping the country reach the gold-medal match against Brazil, a 2-1 loss. 

Pedri's stock has risen mightily since he joined Camp Nou, and there was talk he could be poached from Barca because of the club's ongoing financial crisis. German giants Bayern Munich were among the clubs with interest in the Spaniard, per Sport's Toni Juanmarti. 

However, Barcelona had no intention of parting ways with Pedri after watching club legend Lionel Messi depart for Paris Saint-Germain. Antoine Griezmann also left for Atletico Madrid following a three-year stint at Camp Nou. 

With Pedri locked up, Barcelona can focus on the future. The club was reportedly looking to replace Ronald Koeman, but president Joan Laporta said earlier this month that the coach's job was safe. 

However, ESPN reported that Koeman was kept on because of the lack of credible alternatives available. If a more intriguing boss becomes accessible, Koeman could be out. 

Barcelona has struggled early this season, sitting ninth in La Liga with a 3-3-1 record. The club has not won a league match since a 3-0 victory over Levante on September 26.  

Barcelona chief executive Ferran Reverter explained the extent of the club's financial problems at a news conference Wednesday, saying it would not have been able to survive if it was a public limited company.

"When we came in this March, we found a club that was technically bankrupt; if it was a PLC, [the club] would have been dissolved," Reverter said. "There was no cash flow and we had difficulties paying salaries. Debt and future liabilities amounted to €1.35 billion and there was an urgent need for refinancing."

Barcelona is a members-owned club with over 144,000 members.

The club was still forced to part with Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann among other high-salary players before the start of the season.

In June, Barcelona announced a loan from Goldman Sachs worth $605 million to help refinance their debts.

"If the same squad had been kept in this season, the payroll would have amounted to €835 million, 108 percent over recurring revenue," Reverter said Wednesday. "Moreover, these operations have resulted in significant and unusual intermediation costs in previous years."

Reverter specifically called out former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu for the financial issues, criticizing a number of high-priced acquisitions. He noted a 61 percent increase in the club's payroll from 2016-20.

"They didn't consider if they could pay for the players," he said. "Griezmann was signed in a rush. They realised they could not pay for him and ended up needing €85m in credit to do the deal."

Bartomeu resigned in October 2020 and was replaced by Joan Laporta.

The lack of money led to Messi leaving for Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer despite reportedly agreeing to an extension earlier in the summer, per Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens of ESPN.

Barcelona have suffered on the pitch as well, sitting ninth in the La Liga table with 12 points from seven matches. The club is in last place in its Champions League group with two losses in two matches.  

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said Saturday there are no imminent plans to replace manager Ronald Koeman despite the club's lackluster start to the 2021-22 season.

Laporta told reporters Koeman "deserves a certain amount of confidence for many reasons," and the club remains hopeful the results will improve as the term moves forward:

Koeman loves Barca and decided to come at a really difficult moment for the club institutionally and sportingly. After speaking with him, I see he has faith in the team, above all when he gets the injured players back. He has a contract [until the summer] and we hope to get back to winning ways and playing well. I am sure he will do everything possible.

We can all understand the reactions because we are not getting results, but I ask the supporters to have some confidence in the coach, he deserves it, and to have faith in this team because when everyone is available they will be even more competitive.

Barcelona entered Saturday seventh in the La Liga table with three wins and three draws from the season's first six fixtures. It also opened the Champions League campaign with back-to-back 3-0 losses to Bayern Munich and Benfica.

Wednesday's lopsided UCL defeat against the Portuguese side raised questions about whether Barca would soon sack Koeman, who was hired in August 2020.

The rumors led the 58-year-old Netherlands native to grow frustrated during his pre-match press conference Friday ahead of Saturday's visit to Wanda Metropolitano to face Atletico Madrid. He was asked questions typically reserved for a manager who has left a club, such as his favorite moments from his tenure.

"The best moment? When I signed to become Barca coach. The worst moment? When Lionel Messi left," Koeman said.

The former Barcelona defender added he was "fed up" with having to defend himself.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported the Blaugrana had kept Koeman in charge of the coaching staff due to a "lack of credible alternatives available," though the club had "stepped up their search for a replacement" after the Benfica loss.

Laporta said Saturday he's spoken with the club's manager amid the speculation about his future and said any rumors about issues between them are overblown.

"I've spoken with him and drawn my own conclusions," he said. "I value the moment he took over the club. We've spoken, and it's not true the relationship between us is cold. It's a good and honest relationship. He's a good person, and I think he thinks the same as me. We are all trying to turn this around for the better."

Despite Laporta's comments, it wouldn't be a surprise if rumors about Koeman's future persist if Barca can't secure a positive result against Atletico on Saturday since the club heads into a two-week international break following the match.

Barcelona reportedly continue to make a late push to acquire Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid before the summer transfer window closes Tuesday by offering Antoine Griezmann in a potential swap.

ESPN's Sam Marsden and Moises Llorens reported the latest conversations could hinge on Diego Simeone, who's "keen" to work with Griezmann again after the forward left the club in 2019 to join Barca, but the Atletico manager does not want the reunion to come at the expense of Felix.

The Colchoneros have raised the prospect of reopening talks about a swap that would send Griezmann back to Estadio Metropolitano in exchange for midfielder Saul Niguez, which was discussed earlier in the window, but Barcelona would prefer a forward in return for the French international, per ESPN.

Griezmann, 30, tallied 13 goals and seven assists across 36 La Liga appearances for Barca last season. He arrived to Camp Nou in July 2019 on a €120 million transfer.

Felix, 21, has looked like a star in the making during stints with Benfica and Atletico over the past three years. He recorded seven goals and five assists in 31 La Liga matches last term.

Barcelona made an initial offer to take the Portuguese forward on loan for 2021-22 and, after that was declined, returned with the Griezmann swap proposal, according to ESPN.

With Simeone hesitant to give up Felix in the final hours before the transfer deadline, it's unclear whether the sides have any further alternatives, or whether Barca could add further assets to entice the swap.

In 2018, Griezmann told UEFA.com before his exit from Atletico that Simeone was the “best tactical and defensive coach in the world.”

"It's a joy to work with him. He identifies every player's weaknesses and tries to improve them, making you a more complete player," Griezmann said. "He has helped me grow both on a personal and professional level. He will always ask for the best of me and make me do my best, and I'll always be there to help him and help win the games."

He won the UEFA Super Cup and Europa League under Simeone during his prior stint with the club.

While it sounds like a return is possible before the transfer window closes, the clubs still have work to do if it's going to become reality.

Barcelona President Joan Laporta shed light on the club's financial woes Monday, saying its debt stood at €1.35 billion, which played a role in Lionel Messi's recent departure for Paris Saint-Germain after his new contract with Barca couldn't be finalized.

ESPN FC's Alex Kirkland noted Laporta, who returned to the presidential role in March after holding the position from 2003 through 2010, blamed predecessor Josep Maria Bartomeu for the issues.

"Bartomeu was plugging holes in the short term and mortgaging the club in the long term," Laporta said. "That leaves us a dramatic inheritance. To the initial debt of €617 million you have to add €389 million on players, €90 million in litigation, €79 million in advance television rights and €56 million from the Espai Barca project. In total, it's €1.35 billion."

Messi, who became a free agent July 1 after his contract expired, was widely expected to sign a new five-year deal with Barcelona before the club suddenly announced Aug. 5 it wouldn't be able to retain him because of La Liga's "regulations on player registration."

The Blaugrana face a "strict" salary cap imposed by the Spanish top-flight league that also required Gerard Pique to accept a wage cut in order to sign transfers Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia, per Kirkland.

Bartomeu wrote an open letter last week (via Marca's Ramiro Aldunate) saying the "inaction" by the club's board of directors since Laporta returned to the presidency is the reason for the financial state:

If [Laporta's] Board had approved the [Barcelona Corporate] project, it would have meant a capital injection of at least €220 million with the aim of reducing the income losses caused by COVID...which in 2020-21 could be €375 million.

If to those €220 million we had added the necessary 20 percent salary reduction (€90 million) from the players' contracts, essential from March 21, 2021, when the worst expectations were confirmed, the salary ratio dictated by La Liga would have been complied with, allowing for players to be registered.

Laporta argued the letter was "full of lies," per Kirkland, and said the trickle-down effect of Neymar's transfer to PSG in August 2017 was the source of the problems.

"They spent the €220 million from the Neymar deal disproportionately and at light speed. That is when the salaries shot up," he said. "We'll have to change the model and invest in [Barcelona's academy] La Masia, making more proportionate investments with more sporting logic."

Messi signed a two-year contract with an option for a third year with PSG that includes an annual salary of €30-35 million, according to ESPN's Julien Laurens.

The French side hasn't announced when he'll make his club debut. Les Parisiens, who opened the Ligue 1 term with back-to-back wins over Troyes and Strasbourg, next play Friday at Brest.

Meanwhile, Barcelona opened the post-Messi era Sunday with a 4-2 victory over Real Sociedad.