Barcelona could have few complaints about their Champions League exit at the hands of Liverpool, according to the consensus in the Spanish press today.
Barcelona, the defending European champions, were knocked out by Rafael Benitez's team on the away goals rule despite winning yesterday's second leg 1-0.
Former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen gave Barca hope with a 75th-minute strike at Anfield, but Frank Rijkaard's team were unable to get a second goal and, according to Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo, it took Barca too long to get going.
"Rijkaard's team woke up too late," said the paper, whose front-page headline was simply "The End", in English.
AS also went for an English headline for their match report, saying: "Bye bye Barcelona."
"Gudjohnsen scores at Anfield, but they lacked another goal. Rijkaard lined up with three defenders, but Barca created little danger. Liverpool could have scored a number of goals before the break."
Sport were more sympathetic to Barca's cause, saying "They fell with honour."
"Liverpool were devastating in the first half, but in the second Barca deserved more," added the newspaper.
Sport did not seem overly impressed with Barca's formation though, saying: "the 3-4-3 was not magical."
"The reigning champion of the Champions League fell in a tie which was lost at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago."
Madrid-based Marca also noted how Barca's attacking line-up failed to fire at Anfield, despite Rijkaard starting with all three of his superstar strikers - Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
"The 'great trident' was not enough," Marca reported. "Rijkaard accommodates his three magicians, but it did not work.
"Rijkaard started with Messi, Ronaldinho and Eto'o for the first time in more than 150 days.
"With them on the pitch Barcelona had succeeded in their greatest dates in the last two years. Only in the Supercopa against Sevilla have they failed.
"Yesterday, the same as in Monaco, Barcelona fell with them on the pitch. None of the three 'cracks' showed their best level and few times could they break through the spider's web of Rafa Benitez's defence.
"Barca gave up their crown at the mythical Anfield without showing why they were the champions."
Former Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen gave Barca hope with a 75th-minute strike at Anfield, but Frank Rijkaard's team were unable to get a second goal and, according to Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo, it took Barca too long to get going.
"Rijkaard's team woke up too late," said the paper, whose front-page headline was simply "The End", in English.
AS also went for an English headline for their match report, saying: "Bye bye Barcelona."
"Gudjohnsen scores at Anfield, but they lacked another goal. Rijkaard lined up with three defenders, but Barca created little danger. Liverpool could have scored a number of goals before the break."
Sport were more sympathetic to Barca's cause, saying "They fell with honour."
"Liverpool were devastating in the first half, but in the second Barca deserved more," added the newspaper.
Sport did not seem overly impressed with Barca's formation though, saying: "the 3-4-3 was not magical."
"The reigning champion of the Champions League fell in a tie which was lost at the Nou Camp a fortnight ago."
Madrid-based Marca also noted how Barca's attacking line-up failed to fire at Anfield, despite Rijkaard starting with all three of his superstar strikers - Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.
"The 'great trident' was not enough," Marca reported. "Rijkaard accommodates his three magicians, but it did not work.
"Rijkaard started with Messi, Ronaldinho and Eto'o for the first time in more than 150 days.
"With them on the pitch Barcelona had succeeded in their greatest dates in the last two years. Only in the Supercopa against Sevilla have they failed.
"Yesterday, the same as in Monaco, Barcelona fell with them on the pitch. None of the three 'cracks' showed their best level and few times could they break through the spider's web of Rafa Benitez's defence.
"Barca gave up their crown at the mythical Anfield without showing why they were the champions."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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