Shaqiri faces Barcelona after infamous 4-0 Liverpool loss
Swiss footballer Xherdan Shaqiri, now at Basel, will face FC Barcelona in a friendly in Switzerland. The match will revive memories of two infamous games for Barça, where Shaqiri played a minor role: both ended in 4-0 losses for the Catalan team.
What happened in those historic matches?
In 2013, Shaqiri wore Bayern Munich's jersey when Barça was crushed 4-0 in the Champions League semifinals. In 2019, with Liverpool, he repeated the feat with another 4-0 at Anfield. Curiously, in both games, Shaqiri only played one minute, coming on at the 90th.
Why is this reunion important?
For Barça, this friendly is a chance to erase the bad memory of those defeats. The team arrives in great form: 2025 La Liga champions with 79 points (26W-1D-4L), 9 points ahead of Real Madrid, and with a goal difference of +54 (84 scored, 30 conceded).
What's next for Barça?
After this friendly, Barça prepares for their next La Liga match against Valencia on January 31, 2027. The team, coming off a five-game winning streak, will look to maintain their league lead.
