Barcelona are still digesting the shock of losing Lionel Messi but are not yet counting out the chance of an unlikely tilt for the Champions League, captain Sergio Busquets said ahead of today’s meeting at home to Bayern Munich.
Bayern dished out Barca’s worst ever European defeat little more than a year ago when they thrashed the Catalans 8-2 in the quarter-finals of the 2019-20 competition, leading to Messi first declaring his intention to leave.
Messi’s departure for Paris St Germain came a year later due to the club’s colossal financial problems, despite the player rowing back on his pledge to leave and preparing to take a 50% pay cut. “It was a shock given everything Leo did for Barca and for me,” midfielder Busquets said. “We felt a number of sensations which were difficult to digest but we have to try and move on. We’re only at the start of the season and we have to get used to playing without Leo.”
Barca have undergone radical changes since that seismic defeat by Bayern in 2020, parting not just with Messi but also Luis Suarez, hapless coach Quique Setien and then president Josep Maria Bartomeu. Busquets conceded to being badly affected by the humiliating defeat but stressed the team have made progress under coach Ronald Koeman. “It was difficult to accept, but that’s how football is. Some time has passed and we’re confident things are going to be different,” he added.
Barca suffered their earliest exit from the Champions League in 14 years when they were knocked out by PSG in the last 16 last season and expectations in Europe’s top competition have been further lowered by Messi’s departure. But Busquets said the club were heading in the right direction under Koeman.
Barca have seven points from three games in LaLiga and enjoyed a weekend off as Saturday’s match with Sevilla was postponed due to South American players returning late from World Cup qualifiers.
Bayern have 10 points from their opening four Bundesliga games and have scored 12 goals in their last three fixtures, winning 4-1 at RB Leipzig on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann said Messi’s departure leaves a big hole at Barcelona but will allow the club’s younger players to make a name for themselves. Nagelsmann said things were changing at Barcelona after the Argentine forward’s exit but added that players like midfielders Pedri and Frenkie De Jong and forward Memphis Depay would get opportunities to shine.
“It’s difficult to say if they’re stronger or weaker, but they’re different. They don’t have that extravagant style anymore without Messi, but they have players who can step out of his shadow,” Nagelsmann said.
“Barca have changed the structure of their defence, they’re pressing very high. That’s something they didn’t do with Messi at Barca in the past two to three years. Messi was a player who attracted the ball a lot. You always looked for him but now several players will have to take responsibility. They have an interesting mixture of young players that can develop.”
Nagelsmann said Serge Gnabry would have to pass a late fitness test to play but Corentin Tolisso was left out due to a calf problem. Kingsley Coman is also in the squad but may not start the game. The German coach said new signing Marcel Sabitzer needed more time to adapt to the team before the midfielder can make the starting lineup.

Today’s Fixtures
Group E: Barcelona vs Bayern Munich; Dynamo Kyiv vs Benfica
Group F: Young Boys vs Manchester United; Villarreal vs Atalanta
Group G: Sevilla vs FC Red Bull Salzburg; Lille vs VfL Wolfsburg
Group H: Chelsea vs Zenit St Petersburg; Malmo FF vs Juventus