Trouble for Xavi As Barcelona Land Club of Top Super Eagles Striker in Europa League Round of 16

• This season's Europa League knockout phase will mark a departure from the usual 32 teams
• Instead, there will be just 16 of them - with the eight group winners being joined by the eight who finished third in the UCL group stages
• Barcelona, Porto, Leipzig, and Napoli are among the top teams that will face off against each other in the knockouts
• Serial winners Sevilla are also in the competition and will be battling Dynamo Zagreb in their own fixture

Barcelona are among a number of teams who were relegated to the Europa League following their elimination from the Champions League.

The La Liga giants needed at least a win in their last group fixture against Bayern Munich to earn qualification to the knockout round.

However, their 3-0 humiliating defeat at Allianz Arena meant they will be playing in the second-tier European competition first time since the 2003/04 season.

The Xavi-tutored side will be kicking off their campaign against Napoli following the Monday, December 13, draw conducted in Nyon, Switzerland.

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Borussia Dortmund, Porto, RB Leipzig, and Atalanta are also among the top teams who exited the UCL and will now have to continue their continental assignment in the Europa League.

Leipzig have been pooled alongside Real Sociedad, with Porto landing a tricky fixture against Serie A giants, Lazio.

meanwhile, serial winners, Sevilla will be entertaining Dynamo Zagreb in their own fixture of the knockout phase.

Here is the full Europa League draw:

Atalanta v Olympiacos

Leipzig v Real Sociedad

Barcelona v Napoli

Zenit v Real Betis

Borussia Dortmund v Rangers

Sheriff Tiraspol v Braga

Porto v Lazio

Sevilla v Dynamo Zagreb

Bayern Munich Star Mocks Barcelona After Crashing Out of Champions League in Stunning Statement

Earlier, Legit.ng had reported how Thomas Muller of Bayern Munich has mocked Barcelona players claiming that they can't cope with the intensity of top football following their crashing out in the Champions League.

Barcelona: All Possible Play Off Opponents as Catalan Giants Slip to Europa League

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It was a bad night for Barcelona players and their fans on Wednesday, December 8, as they suffered embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Bayern Munich which sent them out of the UCL.

A win for Barcelona in Germany would have helped the Catalans secure a place in the Champions League knockout stage, but they were humiliated by their hosts who gave them no breathing space on the pitch.

Bayern Munich started the encounter against Barcelona impressively, but the German champions had to wait until the 34th minute before netting the first goal through Thomas Muller.