The 2021-22 campaign was a season of profound upheaval and dramatic resurgence for Barcelona, as the Blaugrana navigated their first post-Lionel Messi era. After a tumultuous start that saw the mid-season sacking of manager Ronald Koeman, club legend Xavi Hernandez was appointed and engineered a crucial second-half recovery, securing a 2nd-place finish in La Liga for a vital return to the Champions League. Spearheading the attack was the new signing Memphis, whose 12 league goals provided essential firepower, while the season also saw the brief, heartbreaking stint of veteran striker Sergio Agüero, who was forced into early retirement due to heart problems. It was a definitive year of transition, marked by a humiliating Champions League group stage exit but redeemed by an iconic 4-0 El Clásico victory at the Bernabéu.