Briefly, it was very exciting. Then it just became embarrassing. Every year, as it's become for Barcelona, it’s the same problem. Every year, as soon as it meets a good side in the Champions League, it capitulates. It happened in 2017 against Paris Saint-German and then, after a bewildering comeback, Juventus. It happened in 2018 against Roma. It happened in 2019 against Liverpool. And it happened this year, worse than ever before, against Bayern Munich.
With the ball, in forward areas, Barcelona remains dangerous. Without it, it is a disaster. The aging midfield, even when bolstered by the addition of Arturo Vidal or Antoine Griezmann, cannot deal with anybody who runs at it, and the defense is frequently left exposed.