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Barcelona: Pique and co mocked as UEL anthem plays out before Napoli clash

  /  autty

Barcelona were mocked by fans on social media as the unfamiliar Europa League anthem played out at the Nou Camp ahead of their clash with Napoli.

Barca have been demoted to the Europa League after failing to make it past the Champions League group stages back in December, with Bayern Munich and Benfica beating them to a place in the knockout rounds.

As a result, the Spanish club are now competing in Europe's second-tier club competition for the first time since 2004, locking horns with Napoli in their first knockout tie on Thursday night.

It was therefore unusual to see Barca, who were considered the best team in world football as little as a decade ago, line up for the Europa League anthem in Catalonia after 18 years of Champions League football.

And when the tune played out, fans quickly took to social media to express their disbelief at how far Barca have fallen in recent years, while one even pointed out how decorated defender Gerard Pique looked to be 'dying inside'.

One wrote: 'Tears Europa league anthem in big camp nou (laughing emojis) it just seems weird man'.

Another said: 'Loooool still can’t accept the fact that Barcelona, 10 years ago, were one of the best teams in Europe and now they are playing in a Europa League tie in Nou Camp'.

A third put: 'That Europa League anthem is so s**t, I know Piquè is dying inside'.

Another commented: 'LMAO ITS SO FUNNY HEARING EUROPA LEAGUE ANTHEM'.

A fifth said: 'Hearing the Europa League anthem at the Nou Camp is so weird'.

Another posted: 'Watching Ferran Torres standing for the Europa league anthem when he could have been playing in the quarter finals of the UCL.'

While one startled fan simply put: 'Bro, we just witnessed the Europa League anthem in Camp Nou'.