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Match preview

For the second successive season, Barcelona will exit the Champions League at the group phase.

Last Wednesday, Barça’s fate was sealed even before they kicked off, with Inter hammering Viktoria Plzeň 4-0 at San Siro.

Demoralised by this, Xavi’s team put in a generally lifeless display, swatted aside 3-0 by Bayern Munich at Camp Nou.

Of course, Barcelona are in a tough group, but accumulating just one point from four games with Inter and Bayern isn’t going to get them anywhere.

So, despite making seven summer signings, spending over €150 million, they’ll be back in the Europa League again come February.

The Catalan giants have only won one of their last seven Champions League games, this coming in the reverse fixture.

Here though, with nothing to play for, expect Xavi to ring the changes.

Viktoria Plzeň meanwhile had to overcome HJK, FC Sheriff and Qarabağ in qualifiers, thereby returning to the Champions League after four years away.

Once here though, Michal Bílek’s team have not been able to compete, losing all five matches, conceding 20 goals.

If the Czech champions are beaten by 3+ goals, they’ll break GNK Dinamo’s record for the worst-ever Champions League group phase.

Thus, an emphatic away win seems likely at Doosan Arena.