📆 The last time Barcelona had to settle for the Europa League | OneFootball

Barcelona visit Bayern Munich on Wednesday having to win to keep their Champions League fate in their own hands.

Fail to take three points from the Allianz Arena and Barça will drop into the Europa League if Benfica beat Dynamo Kyiv.

Barcelona in the Europa League sounds unthinkable but it has happened in the not-so-distant past, and it happened when new boss Xavi was still early in his playing career.

It’s hard to imagine a team consisting of Ronaldinho, Carles Puyol, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Luis Enrique were having to ply their trade in the Europa League. Or the Uefa Cup, as it was called at the time.

But believe it or not, a sixth-placed finish in LaLiga under the guidance of Louis van Gaal – he left by mutual content midway through the season and was replaced by Radomir Antić – meant that was exactly what happened to Barça in 2003/04.

It was the first time since 1995/96 that the club would start a campaign outside of the Champions League and the only time since 2001 that they have played in a European competition other than the Champions League.

Barcelona were in disarray, reeling from the effects of a financial meltdown and needed to be guided away from a crisis by the new president, Joan Laporta.

Frank Rijkaard stepped into the ruins of the previous reign, tasked with restoring an attractive style of play that brings success modelled in the foundations laid down by Johan Cruyff.

Fall from grace or not, Barcelona were still considered one of the heavy favourites to take the trophy.

Instead of the group stage format the competition holds today the Uefa Cup was decided in straight two-legged knockout ties from the onset.

Rijkaard’s men were drawn against Slovakian side MŠK Púchov in the first round and despite the Dutchman picking their strongest possible side, the Spaniards stumbled to a 1-1 draw away from home.

A hat-trick from Ronaldinho helped Barcelona to a 8-0 thrashing in the return leg three weeks later as progress from the first round was sealed.

They then eased past Panionios and Brondby as they began to really flex their teeth, setting up a round of 16 clash with Celtic.

The two teams have met 10 times in the Champions League since 2004 with Barcelona winning eight of these meetings, scoring 27 goals.

On this occasion, however, Barça ended up winless and goalless.

A high-tempered night in Glasgow proved to be the unravelling of this Barcelona side.

Rab Douglas and Thiago Motta saw red for a scuffle in the tunnel during the half-time break before Javier Saviola was also dismissed for kicking out at Alan Thompson at the start of the second half.

Nine-man Barcelona couldn’t hold out and Thompson dusted himself down to fire home the decisive goal in the 59th-minute.

Back at Camp Nou the hosts couldn’t find the two goals they needed despite coming up against 19-year-old goalkeeper David Marshall on his full European debut.

A European journey one of the biggest clubs in the world never wanted to embark on was over.

Xavi will be hoping he doesn’t have to represent Barça in that competition ever again. But history has a habit of repeating itself.