Leeds United: 16 years today – Whites took on Barça in Champions League

Barcelona are a club whose name is synonymous with the word ‘success’. Their overall playing talent is almost non-pareil, save for arguably Real Madrid.

Today’s Barcelona has a fearsome front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar – players that any team wishes they had only one of in their side. Behind them it is almost a Who’s Who of world football.

Rewind the tape only 16 years and the Millenium version of Barcelona were in the Champions League and in the same group as Leeds United. Their Millenium side also dripped talent with the names of Phillip Cocu, Sergi and Luis Enrique topped off by Brazilian Rivaldo – the 1999 Ballon D’Or winner.

This was the Leeds United side that most of the new wave of fans identify with, the side that drove to the Champions League Semi-Finals that year. That was despite being in a group that as well as containing Spanish giants Barcelona and their fellow continental giants in Serie A’s AC Milan.

Leeds actually emerged from that First Round group, Group H, ahead of Barcelona with the Catalans going out at the group stage. This was despite the Whites being humbled at the Nou Camp in a 4-0 reverse where they were sunk by goals from Rivaldo (10′), Frank De Boer (20′) and a Patrick Kluivert brace (75′ and 84′).

The reverse leg was played out in the pounding West Yorkshire rain and in front of 36,721 supporters at Elland Road.

Leeds United vs Barcelona – Elland Road 24th October 2000 – Match Highlights
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