Less than 40,000 fans turned up to watch the match and they witnessed yet another abject Barca display as Rijkaard's side, who have now gone two successive seasons without a major trophy, surrendered a 2-0 lead against Real Mallorca to lose 3-2.

It was a sorry send-off for Rijkaard, whose five-year stint at Barca will come to an end this summer when he is replaced by reserve team coach Josep Guardiola.

"It was a sad night for the team and also for me," said Rijkaard after the game.

"Certainly I did not expect such a difficult end to the season. As a sportsman I expected other things.

"This suffering in this final phase is almost unbearable. It is tough, tough, tough."

The 39,298 crowd was the worst league attendance at the Nou Camp this season, and many of those Barca fans who did bother to turn up used the opportunity to vent their anger and frustrations at the club's plight.

White handkerchiefs were waved in disapproval at the club's board while there was little to celebrate on the pitch either as Barca slumped to their third home loss of the campaign.

"Barca are a great team and must always play to win important things. When it is not like that you know that the public will not react well," said Rijkaard.

"The members and fans have the right to show how they feel, because they want a winning Barca. The squad was ready for an atmosphere like that.

"The team has to be stronger than the circumstances, and here they haven't been."