Fans of the Championship side would surely give anything to get back to being taken apart in Europe’s premier competition.
Leeds’ side ahead of their game against Barcelona
While Garry Monk prepares his Leeds United side for their clash with fellow Championship strugglers Blackburn Rovers tonight, supporters of the Elland Road club may wish to recall that on this day 16 years ago, the Whites began the journey that would almost see them reach the summit of the European game.
After coming through a preliminary round unscathed, the Peacocks began the group-stages of the Champions League with a trip that Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side are preparing themselves for this evening, as they took on Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
The famous stadium has a special place in Leeds’ recent history as it was the ground that saw them overcome Stuttgart in a qualifying round ahead of the 1992-93 Champions League with Carl Shutt bagging a late winner.
And while the Catalan giants were a slightly less frightening animal than they are now, David O’Leary’s men were taken apart by the La Liga side and sent back to Yorkshire having been beaten 4-0.
A brilliant piece of skill from Rivaldo and a stunning long-range free-kick from Frank De Boer had given Barca a 2-0 lead at the break before Patrick Kluivert bagged a brace to complete the rout.
The game would also be remembered for the neck injury suffered by Lucas Radebe
In terms of the group-stages, it would be the Whites that would have the last laugh however, as they were the ones that finished in second-place in the group behind AC Milan, while Barcelona would end up third and would have to settle for a place in the UEFA Cup.
Another second-place finish in the second group-stage – this time, Real Madrid denied them top spot – saw O’Leary’s men handed a tie against Deportivo La Coruna in the quarter-finals.
Leeds would go on to reach the semi-final after beating Deportivo in the last eight
But after the 3-2 aggregate win, the dream would come to an end as they were knocked out in the semi-final by Valencia. After a goalless first-leg, the La Liga side won the rematch in emphatic fashion to set up a final with Bayern Munich.
The defeat in the Mestalla remains Leeds’ most recent game in the competition as they soon tumbled down to the third tier of English football.
And while the scoreline 16 years ago today was hugely disappointing, with the team now struggling in the Championship, it is likely that many fans would give anything to see their team back at Europe’s top table being thrashed by Barca once again.
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