Barcelona are the headline Champions League failures, but they’re not alone as Atletico crash out too – The Warm-Up

THURSDAY’S BIG STORIES

Barca take a tumble – and Atletico too

That did, however, give Barca the ignominy of playing against a team so used to humiliating them, knowing already that it was to be Europa League football, not Champions League football, for Xavi’s side after Christmas.

It is difficult to think of a more immediately embarrassing moment to play against a team like Bayern Munich than having the knowledge you have just been eliminated from a competition you are about to play in, and then there is Robert Lewandowski – a penny for his thoughts.

“Keep believing,” insisted Joan Laporta ahead of the game. “We have a very competitive team, with very good players who are going to bring you a lot of joy. Stick behind Xavi, he needs your warmth and confidence. That’s what we will give him and we hope the fans do too.”

“We’ll get through this. We won’t ever stop working for what we want. This club has had all kinds of ups and downs over the years, but we have always bounced back. And we can still do that, from every part of the club.”

But while the laughs and pointing fingers are in Barcelona’s direction, they are far from the only big club to have failed on the Champions League stage, and it is going to make for a stacked Europa League knockout bonanza.

Few would have expected Atletico Madrid to finish third-best in a group featuring Club Bruges, Porto and Bayer Leverkusen, and Diego Simeone’s side could yet even place fourth with second no longer possible.

Add to that the fact Juventus and Sevilla could also be in the Europa League, and Ajax almost certainly dropping down after their defeat to Liverpool, and suddenly Arsenal and Manchester United have plenty of unwanted company in Europe’s secondary competition.

It’s making for a who’s who of who’s having a campaign to forget, and Spurs will be spitting feathers if they join the club next week…

VAR mania at Spurs

“I don’t understand the line they put,” Conte told BT Sport afterwards. Valid. “It very difficult to comment on this decision.” Also valid.

“VAR is doing a lot of damage.” Very valid. “I want to see if in another stadium of a big team if they are ready to disallow this type of goal. I’d like to know this.” Intriguing, and also valid.

“A lot of injustice. I don’t like this type of situation. I see not positive things.” Valid. Valid. Valid.

Now Spurs have a trip to Marseille to navigate with just two points separating all four sides in the group.

Conte adds, with a valid point don’t you know: “I don’t understand why we have to get something from the next game when we can finish the qualification in this game. When you invent this type of situation, you create a lot of damage – also problems.”

Ronaldo running out of options

Erik ten Hag has welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo back into the Manchester United squad after his Tottenham transgression. However, it must be said we would not file these comments under ‘open arms’.

“Yes, Cristiano will be in the squad on Thursday,” Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference ahead of the match against Sheriff.

“I think we said everything and answered all the questions. He was out for one game and now he is back in the squad as usual. It’s done. He’s back. Let’s focus on the game.”

Sporting, meanwhile, dreams of Ronaldo return…or so they say. Sporting coach Ruben Amorim.

“Everyone at Sporting dreams of Ronaldo’s return, but we don’t have the money for his salary,” said Amorim.

IN THE CHANNELS

It’s a Barcelona/Vikky Plzen double. Enjoy.

HAT-TIP

One of many great snippets comes from Angel Gomes, who says the following of Phil Foden:

Jadon Sancho left the tournament early.

RETRO CORNER

Chelsea 6-0 Man City some 15 years ago now. Look who’s managing City!

How far they’ve come…

COMING UP

There will be minute-by-minute updates from the Europa League – the new home of Barcelona – and the Europa Conference League. There will be commentaries on PSV v Arsenal, Man Utd v Sheriff and West Ham v Silkeborg.