(CNN)Barcelona may be leading La Liga by a handsome eight-point margin but once again in European competition the Catalan club fell short, losing 2-1 to Manchester United at Old Trafford to exit the Europa League 4-3 on aggregate.
Brazilians Fred and Antony secured the comeback win for the English Premier League side, after Robert Lewandowski had given the visitors a first-half lead from the penalty spot.
It is the first time since the 1998-99 season that Barcelona has failed to reach the last 16 in European competition and the team's first defeat since October, ending an 18-match unbeaten run.
Last season Barcelona lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in the quarterfinals of the Europa League, having ended up in Europe's second-tier cup competition after finishing third in its Champions League group.