On Tuesday night, Liverpool hammered Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League semi-final second leg to progress to the final courtesy of 4-3 on aggregate victory.
The home side produced a top display and were just too good for Catalan giants in the end. No doubt they deserve massive credit for the result.
However, Barcelona for the second season in a row have collapsed in the latter stages of the Champions League. Ernesto Valverde’s side only had to avoid a 4-0 defeat at Anfield to secure a place in the final of Europe’s elite competition.
One away goal would have all-but finished the tie. The mission seemed simple enough, especially as the Reds were missing key players in Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.
Valverde’s side were outplayed, and the Barcelona boss outthought by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. They simply had no answer to a passionate and determined display from the home side.
The defeat had echoes of last season against Roma in the quarter-final. Barcelona recorded a comfortable 4-1 win and it was assumed that the Catalan side would progress to the semi-finals of the competition. However, the Giallorossi managed a 3-0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico and progressed in the competition on away goals.
In both away legs, Barcelona failed to do what top sides do, they failed to close the tie out. For all the attacking talents of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, they struggled for the pragmatism and tactician nous needed to win the Champions League.
Barcelona have been able to win back-to-back La Liga titles. In truth, though, the likes of Atletico Madrid, and especially Real Madrid have been poor this season. They will be stronger next season.
Barcelona will also be stronger next season, but they need to learn from their European mistakes. If they do not, then the Catalan giants will continue to produce terrible collapses in the latter stages of the Champions League.