Agencies
Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League following a 3-0 defeat at Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, this is the first time that the La Liga club failed to make it past the group stage of the competition since the 2000-01 season.
Elsewhere, a second-string Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw with Switzerland’s Young Boys in Group F match at Old Trafford.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel said his players “changed their behaviours” after taking an early lead against Zenit St Petersburg as they drew their final Champions League group match.
Meanwhile, a dramatic equaliser from Zenit St Petersburg substitute Magomed Ozdoev four minutes into added time denied holders Chelsea a place in top of their group.
According to the BBC, five-time European champions Barcelona lost to Bayern Munich to miss out on the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time in 17 years. Barca have not been absent from the last 16 since 2003-04, when they did not qualify for the competition at all.
This exit continues a miserable campaign for the Spanish giants after financial issues forced them to let club legend Lionel Messi leave on a free transfer and then join Paris St-Germain in the summer, BBC further reported.
Robert Lewandowski, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala were on the s coresheet for Bayern as they crushed Barca 3-0.
Bayern advance as group winners with a 100% record. Benfica finished on eight points, with Barcelona, who only scored twice in the entire group stage, managed to get seven points.
The draw for the Europa League takes place on Monday at 12:00 GMT in Nyon, Switzerland and Barca will play one of the Europa League group runners-up.
Meanwhile, Mason Greenwood’s spectacular ninth-minute opener failed to inspire Manchester United’s second string who were held to a disappointing Champions League draw by Swiss side Young Boys.
With qualification as group winners having been secured with a game to spare, interim boss Ralf Rangnick gave all 11 players who started the Premier League win over Crystal Palace a night off.
