Barça haven’t been eliminated in the Group Stage since the 2000/01 season, when Serra Ferrer was the manager
In the last five seasons, Barça have gone through to the next round as group leaders
FC Barcelona qualified for the Round of 16 this Tuesday in Moscow, taking the Blaugrana to nine consecutive appearances in the first knock out round of the Champions League. The team led by Tito Vilanova mathematically secured their spot in the next round after beating Spartak Moscow by 0-3. Barça have one game remaining in the Group Stage, at the Camp Nou against Benfica.
Group leaders?
In the last five seasons, Barça have qualified as group leaders. They could make it six consecutive years depending on the result from the match between Benfica and Celtic. If the Scottish team lose or draw, Barça will go through to the next round with the top spot mathematically secured. The last time the Blaugrana went through to the Round of 16 as the second-placed team was in 2006/07, when Chelsea claimed the top spot of the group.
A regular in the latter stages of the competition
The only time Barça didn’t qualify for the Champions League in the 21st century was in the 2003/04 season. The competition’s format was a bit different back then. In 2003, 2002 and 2000 Barça went through to the quarter-finals as group leaders and faced off against Juventus, Panathinaikos and Chelsea, respectively. The only time Barça didn’t get out of the Group Stage was in the 2000/01 season, when Milan, Leeds United and Besiktas eliminated Llorenç Serra Ferrer’s Barça.