Why Barcelona were the biggest disappointment of the 2016/17 season

Modified Jun 30, 2017 15:51 GMT

BARCELONA, SPAIN - APRIL 19: Mario Lemina of Juventus embraces Neymar of Barcelona after the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final second leg match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Camp Nou on April 19, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) — Barcelona could only plunder a Copa Del Rey this past season

#1 The success of Real Madrid

CARDIFF, WALES - JUNE 03: Real Madrid CF players celebrate with the trophy after the UEFA Champions League Final between Juventus and Real Madrid at National Stadium of Wales on June 3, 2017 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) — Real Madrid were dominant in Europe again

Ultimately, it came down to this. It wouldn't have hurt as badly if the league and Champions League success had belonged to, say, Atletico Madrid – but it feels bitter for any Barcelona fan that Real Madrid just enjoyed one of the most successful campaigns in their history while Barca was left to look on and applaud.

Real Madrid won their first league title in five years. They won only the third European Cup and league double in their history, the previous ones being in 1956-57 and 1957-58. They became the first team to retain the European Cup since it got rechristened to 'Champions League' in 1992.

It was not just a bad season for Barcelona, it was a historic one for Real – all the more why it hurt as badly as it did.

Edited by Staff Editor