The Germans' 7-0 aggregate victory was Barca's worst-ever European defeat, and although Vilanova recognised that the World Player of the Year's recurring hamstring injury had played its part in the Catalans' dismantling, he denied that their dependence on him has grown substantially this season.

"He played in Bilbao on Saturday (when Barca drew 2-2) because he felt better. He imprinted a change on the team but at the end of the game he felt some strange sensations," Vilanova told a press conference.