More European pain for Barcelona despite improvements

Suffered a 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford

This time it was supposed to be different, but Barcelona finished with the same sinking feeling at another of Europe’s hallowed grounds.

The Catalan giants were dumped out of continental competition again, this time by Manchester United at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Xavi Hernandez’s side fell to a 2-1 defeat (4-3 on aggregate), in the Europa League play-off round, despite their heavy summer investment and strong domestic form marking them out as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Barcelona won the Champions League in 2015 but the years since then have been deeply disappointing and, at times, humiliating, on the pitch and sometimes off it too.

Read full story on www.sportsdesk.com.mt

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