This went the last time that the Barça remained deleted in phase of groups

Published New:6/12/2021 - 18:18h

Updated New:6/12/2021 - 18:18h

The FC Barcelona was third in the liguilla of the Champions League 2000-2001 with the AC Milan, Leeds and Besiktas: a memory that could go back reality

It could the FC Barcelona go back to bend the knee in phase of groups of the Champions League this Wednesday in front of the Bayern Munich in the Allianz Sand, a fact that does not experience from the season 2000-2001 with Llorenç Serra Ferrer in the bench of the first Barcelona team.

Unfortunately, the Barcelona team was third in a liguilla where did not see benefited in the draw. The Barça struggled spread to Leeds, Besiktas and AC Milan. The third square commanded to the picture of the Camp Nou to the Glass of the UEFA. A hard varapalo in a season for the forget that afterwards it would be 'forgotten' after the good steps of the team that helped to 'cover this stain' in the file.

Ironically, that campaign could not begin better for the Barça: goleó in front of his fans to the Leeds by 4-0 with goals of Rivaldo, Frank of Boer and doublet of Kluivert. A big European night, with good football and goals. The best homage in memory of Angel Mur father. The ex-president Josep Lluís Núñez, that had left the charge in July, saw the party from his place of partner. "It would be difficult to do it better", ensured the technician barcelonista.

It was in the second day when the Barcelona team would taste the another face of the football: a defeat hiriente in front of the Besiktas. The stadium Inonu was a hell for the players barcelonistas, that could not in front of the Turkish intensity, sinking in the straight final of the duel. The commitment ingresó to the books of history by the statements of the vice-president Ángel Fernández: "This football of dance of living room is not way to go by Europe".

New disappointment

The Barça did not attain resarcirse in the Camp Nou in front of the Milan of Alberto Zaccheroni and added the second defeat, complicating already the way to the second liguilla. Coco, future culé signed the 0-1 in the minute 45 and Bierhoff the 0-2 in the 71. In the 80 Comandini crashed a shot in the stick of Dutruel. The president Gaspart, that went down to the changing rooms at the end of the party, commanded a message of hope to the fans: "the players have conjurado and have promised me win in Milan".

However, in Saint Siro took out a tie (3-3) and saw even more engaged his future in the Champions. The party in front of the Milan was spectacular, being Rivaldo, author of a hat-trick -with two goals of fault- the Barcelona hero. The misfortune cebó with the Barça, that lost to Petit and Cocu in the first time by both hits in the head.

Without miracle

It did not occur any miracle the Wednesday 8 November 2000. The Barça fulfilled, goleó and desquitó of the Besiktas in the Camp Nou (5-0), but the Milan empató 1-1 against the Leeds and left to the Barça in third position, 'condemned' to play the Glass of the UEFA and say goodbye to the second liguilla of the Champions. Cocu, Luis Enrique (2), Rivaldo and Gabri annotated the so many barcelonistas. Serra Ferrer had it clear: "we have paid very expensive the of Istanbul".

Glass UEFA

The Barça closed the season 2000-2001 without any title. It was fourth in LaLiga thanks to the remembered goal of Chilean of Rivaldo against Valencia (3-2) in the last day, in Europe suffered two eliminations (Champions and UEFA) and in the Glass said goodbye in semifinals against the Celtic. In the Glass Catalonia neither succeeded and yielded in front of the CF Balaguer (2-2) in the batch of penaltis (3-4).