Barcelona sack Setien following Bayern horror show

Quique Setien is the first casualty of a disappointing Barcelona campaign that was capped by a humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich last Friday.

Barcelona confirmed Setien's sacking on Monday, ending the Spaniard's seven-month association with the Catalan giants following his appointment in January as Ernesto Valverde's successor.

"This is the first decision within a wider restructuring of the first team which will be agreed between the current technical secretary and the new coach, who will be announced in the coming days," the club said.

Reports on Monday suggested Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman, who enjoyed a decorated playing career with Barcelona, will be appointed as the team's new coach later this week.

Setien isn't entirely to blame for a poor post-restart showing that saw Barcelona relinquish their lead in La Liga to rivals Real Madrid and bow out of the Champions League at the quarterfinal stage for the fourth time in five years.

Barcelona's issues aren't limited to the manager. The frailties of an aging squad hampered by years of transfer malpractice and overspending were on full display in the lopsided loss against Bayern, the club's worst defeat in nearly 80 years.