The group stage of the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League season was filled with strong teams, with the last 16 revealed and powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Liverpool advancing. However, Barcelona, who lost Lionel Messi, were eliminated in a staggering fashion, scoring only 2 goals in 6 games, placing them third in the group, and only able to participate in the knockout round playoffs of the UEFA Cup. Obviously, such a result is difficult for Barcelona fans to accept, because the red and blue army has been a model of success for more than a decade, and its "Real Saarinen" title resonates around the world, but now even the Champions League group stage can not be advanced.
The early exit of the Champions League group stage has caused huge losses to Barcelona, the club's financial income has been reduced by at least 30 million euros. Spanish media calculated an account that Barcelona's Champions League exit is self-inflicted. Not to mention Messi's departure, only cleaning Griezmann this initiative to save 20 million euros in expenditure. As we all know, due to the club salary is too high, Barcelona President Laporta in this summer for a series of operations, because of the inability to renew the contract Messi, the Argentine king of the ball to join the free agent status of Paris Saint-Germain; and originally have a contract of Griezmann, but in the last moments of the summer window by Barcelona transferred to Atletico Madrid. Overall, compared to Messi, Griezmann is likely to stay, but in order to reduce the salary burden, Barcelona at any cost to clean the French striker.
After Griezmann's departure, Barcelona fell into the problem of lack of power in the front line, scoring only 2 goals in 6 matches in the Champions League group stage, and all of them were scored against Dynamo Kiev, and in the two rounds of the 4 matches with Benfica and Bayern Munich, the Catalan giants were shut out in all 4 matches. Griezmann, who joined Atletico Madrid, scored four goals and one assist in the Champions League to help his side reach the last 16 in a thriller, with the French striker contributing 71.4% of his team's goals, making him a key figure in the Bedbugs' progression to the knockout stages of the Champions League. In a clear irony for Barcelona, Griezmann is now second on Atletico Madrid's list of top scorers with seven goals, including in other tournaments.
Of course, Barcelona might feel even more desperate if they see Atletico Madrid's team top scorer this season, with former Catalan giants winger Luis Suarez scoring eight goals. It was his outstanding performances that helped the Bedbugs win the La Liga title last season. Barcelona sent two strikers to rival Atletico Madrid, literally cutting off their own arms, and the Catalan giants' ranking in La Liga even dropped to seventh place, showing a precipitous decline.
