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FC Barcelona are one of the most successful football clubs in the world, but as they found out on Friday night against Bayern Munich, even the greatest teams can have horrendous nights.
Barcelona have been no exception, and as they have found out in recent seasons, they have had some of the most embarrassing defeats in their history on big occasions, especially in Europe's premier club competition.
Wins and losses, of course, are part of any sport. Having said that, for a club that has possessed the talent that Barcelona have since the turn of the millennium, some of the losses they have suffered have been inexcusable.
Note: This has been restricted just to Barcelona's worst losses in the 21st century, so that the writer can justify his choices with matches he has seen.
#5 AS Roma 3-0 Barcelona | 2017-18
In many ways, this game was a definition of an era at FC Barcelona. For many fans of the Blaugrana, this night in Rome was the beginning of a feeling that Barcelona are fragile in big European away games.
Going into the second leg of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal, Barcelona were up 4-1 after a great win at the Camp Nou. Despite the scoreline though, the signs were there in the first leg that Barca weren't as comfortable as the scoreline suggested.
With Edin Dzeko in sensational form for Roma, the Giallorossi would quietly have been confident of giving Barcelona a massive scare, at the very least.
But what followed was absolutely spectacular. Dzeko gave Roma the lead on the night in the first half, and that was a sign of things to come. Incessant Roma pressure had the Stadio Olimpico at its loudest, and it was a collosseum, that proved too much for Barcelona to handle.
Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty midway through the second half, and then you felt it was just inevitable that Barcelona were going to concede another. Roma had all the momentum, Roma were destined to do it.
And then, up stepped their Greek God, "from Mount Olympus to the seven hills of Rome". A Cengiz Under corner was flicked by Kostas Manolas and gave Marc-Andre Ter Stegen no chance in the Barcelona goal.
#4 Juventus 3-0 Barcelona | 2016-17
The 2016-17 UEFA Champions League didn't really look like it would have Barcelona as one of its quarterfinalists after the the first leg of the Round of 16. The Blaugrana were embarrassed 4-0 in Paris, and the tie seemed all but done.
But then, the Remontada happened, as PSG were beaten 6-1 at the Camp Nou in the second leg. The draw pit Barcelona against Juventus in the semifinal, and the first leg at the Allianz Stadium in Turin was supposed to set the tie up for a blockbuster return leg at the Nou Camp.
Instead, Barcelona were given a lesson in how to use possession effectively. Juventus had only 32% possession in the game, but everytime they had the ball, in the first half especially, they looked like scoring.
In the first half, Juventus were two goals to the good, after stunning finishes from Paulo Dybala. Giorgio Chiellini scored in the second half to give Juventus a 3-0 lead, and clear daylight in the tie.
Despite all the possession and 16 shots on goal, Barcelona had four shots on target, and none really taxing for Gigi Buffon to save. The second leg was drawn 0-0, and Barca were eliminated.
#3 Barcelona 1-4 Real Madrid | 2007-08
In a loss that signified the beginning of a glorious era, as much as it did the end of one, Barcelona were humiliated in El Clasico in May 2008. Real Madrid had already confirmed their status as La Liga champions, by the time the game happened.
But what followed was a celebration by putting on a show for the Bernabeu faithful by putting their biggest rivals in misery.
Raul struck from within the box, Arjen Robben added a second, Gonzalo Higuain scored a third, and then Ruud van Nistelrooy converted a penalty to subject Barcelona to utter humiliation.
But what followed was the sacking of Frank Rijkaard, who was replaced by Pep Guardiola for the following season. It began one of the most glorious chapters in the history of the club, and one that they hope they can repeat after their latest of string of embarrassing defeats in recent seasons.
#2 Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich | 2019-20
In the single-legged Champions League quarterfinal in the 2019-20 season, Barcelona capitulated to one of their most embarrassing defeats in a long time.
The Blaugrana were absolutely blown away by the speed, desire and precision of Bayern Munich, as they conceded four goals in each half to lose 8-2.
After the game, Barca defender Gerard Pique called for a fundamental structural change to the club, and that they had hit rock-bottom.
A brace each for Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho, along with goals from Serge Gnabry, Ivan Perisic, Joshua Kimmich and Robert Lewandowski condemned Barcelona to an absolute embarrassment.
The night was made even more sour for Barcelona in the last ten minutes by Coutinho. The Brazilian is currently on loan from Barcelona to Bayern Munich, and he came on to score to assist the sixth goal, and scored the seventh and eighth.
#1 Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona | 2018-19
After winning the first leg 3-0 at the Camp Nou, Barcelona went to Anfield in the semifinal of the 2018-19 Champions League, determined to avoid the embarrassment of Rome a year earlier.
They were a lot more confident before the game at Anfield, claiming that they had learnt from the mistakes of Rome. They didn't even have an away goal to worry about.
But what followed was another Barcelona capitulation. Even worse, this happened without Liverpool having either Roberto Firmino or Mohamed Salah in their squad.
Liverpool started the game off straight on the front foot, and their high press was headed straight fo Barcelona throats. Divock Origi duly opened the scoring in the opening exchanges, but Barcelona hit back with a host of chances of their own.
Unable to beat Alisson in the Liverpool goal, the Blaugrana knew that they would have to just survive the second half unscathed to make the final, but that didn't happen.
Within ten minutes of the restart, Gini Wijnaldum, a half-time substitute for Andrew Robertson, scored twice to put the Reds back on level terms in the tie.
The winner, scored by Origi, was a summation of Barca's night. Liverpool had a corner, they took it quickly, Barcelona went to sleep, Origi scored, Barcelona were out, Liverpool had their greatest ever Anfield night.
