Once upon a time, there was Barcelona – a seemingly-invincible team who used to regularly turn the Champions League into their own game reserve. Those days are long gone, however, as these past few seasons, the Blaugrana have been lingering on the bad habit of crashing out of the top European competition in the most sounding, shocking way.
First, there was the Roma comeback, with the Giallorossi beating the Catalonians 3-0 at home to cancel a 1-4 loss suffered at the Camp Nou. Then, last year, it was Liverpool’s time to put four past Barca in the 2nd leg after losing by three away.
And then, tonight, Barcelona hit rock bottom as Bayern Munich mercilessly stormed past them in a single-game Champions League Quarter-Final played at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Bayern won 8-2, making whatever they wanted of a sloppy Spanish side for which it’s even difficult to find a definition.
Bayern had already secured their ticket to the Semi-Final after the first period, which they closed at 4-1. But, you know how German teams are. Once they smell blood and understand their opponents are in difficulty, they won’t stop hitting hard. For confirmation, ask Brazil – whose nights are still haunted by the memory of the Mineirazo, the infamous World Cup 2014 Semi-Final they lost 1-7 to the Mannschaft.
And so, the Lisbonazo was served.
Barcelona-Bayern Munich could have made for a great Champions League last act but fate put the two giants against each other in the Quarter-Finals already. Plenty of goals were expected, though few would have imagined that most would end in the back of Barcelona’s net with a 4 to 1 ratio.
Comparing to his winning exploit against Napoli, coach Quique Seitién recovered Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal, whom he lined up him in place of Ivan Rakitic and Antoine Griezmann. Bayern’s Hans-Dieter Flick, on the other hand, confirmed the same 11 men who thrashed Chelsea a few days earlier.
Four minutes into the game, Barcelona were already caught by surprise on a counter-attack and Thomas Muller struck like lightning, finalizing a great flank-play from Robert Lewandowski. The Blaugrana‘s reaction, however, was equally fast and produced an immediate equalizer as David Alaba deflected the ball into his own net in an attempt to prevent Luis Suarez from catching a Jordi Alba pass.
Two goals in seven minutes made for a great start, but Setién’s club didn’t think about slowing down at all: Manuel Neuer had to promptly deny Suarez, then a tricky Leo Messi cross hit the German keeper’s right post to give the Bavarians another scare.
It was a short illusion for Barcelona, however, as Bayern were soon ahead again. In the 21st minute, a misunderstanding between Sergi Roberto and Nélson Semedo prompted another German fast break, which ended with an Ivan Perisic shot on which Barca’s goalkeeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen could have done better.
In the 27th minute, it was Serge Gnabry’s turn to make it to the scoresheet. The 25-year-old made the best out of a sweet chipped pass from Leon Goretzka that found Barcelona’s defense totally unprepared, beating Ter Stegen with a sharp diagonal shot.
Three minutes later, Joshua Kimmich pounced on failed clearance on the right flank and sent the ball in the box, where Thomas Muller anticipated Clément Lenglet to seal his brace and make it four for Bayern.
At half time, Barcelona were still trying to understand what the heck had happened in those 10 minutes between the 21st and 31st. What about Messi, then? The six-time Ballon d’Or couldn’t produce more than a long-range cross that hit the post and a shot that was easily stopped by Manuel Neuer…
In the second half, Quique Setién needed more attacking power to try an unlikely remuntada so he immediately sent in Antoine Griezmann for Sergi Roberto. He did find a goal, but it was rather thanks to Luis Suarez. The Uruguayan international caught a Jordi Alba pass and produced himself in classy dribbling with his right foot before putting the ball past Neuer with his left one.
Barcelona’s new illusion was also short-lived, however, as in the 63rd minute Canadian left back Alphonso Davies totally outclassed Nélson Semedo in a one-on-one duel and then penetrated deep into the Blaugrana‘s area to serve Joshua Kimmich an easy conversion from point-blank range. Davies’ powerful progression won the prize for the feat of the night.
At that point, Robert Lewandowski surely couldn’t miss the party and when Philippe Coutinho – who had substituted Gnabry a few minutes earlier – serviced him after sneaking through three Barcelona defenders, it was child’s play for the Polish striker to find the back of the net for the sixth time. Coutinho and Lewandowski managing to score despite Barcelona’s box being filled with six men perfectly summed up the Blaugrana‘s horrific defensive performance.
Still, the worst was yet to come, as Coutinho took care personally of scoring the last two goals as he didn’t hesitate to pierce twice more a defense whose performance got more and more embarrassing. The Brazilian, who is on loan to Bayern from Barcelona, had at least the grace to refrain from celebrating against his home club.
Aside from Barcelona’s anguishes, Bayern Munich’s show was absolutely impressive. Coach Hans-Dieter Flick has assembled an unstoppable war-machine who’s ready to put a strong claim on the Champions League. The next stop for the German powerhouse is going to be the winner of tomorrow’s bout between Manchester City and Lyon.
But, if Bayern play like tonight, there are little chances any team could prevent them from lifting the trophy and achieving a seasonal treble – after winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal already.
MATCH SCORECARD
August 14, 2020 – Champions League 2019-20 Quarter-Finals
BARCELONA-BAYERN MUNICH 2-8
SCORERS: 4′ Muller (BM), 7′ Alaba (BM, o.g.), 21′ Perisic (BM), 27′ Gnabry (BM), 31′ Muller (BM), 57′ Suarez (B), 63′ Kimmich (BM), 82′ Lewandowski (BM), 85′ Coutinho (BM), 88′ Coutinho (BM)
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BARCELONA (4-4-2): Ter Stegen; Semedo, Piqué, Lenglet, Jordi Alba; Sergi Roberto (46′ Griezmann), Busquets (70′ Ansu Fati), F. De Jong, Vidal; Messi, Suarez (Neto, Inaki Pena, Rakitic, Dembélé, Junior Firpo, Puig, Ronald, Monchu, Mingueza, Reis) Coach: Setién |
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BAYERN MUNICH (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Boateng (74′ Sule), Alaba, Davies (83′ Tolisso); Thiago Alcantara, Goretzka; Gnabry (75′ Coutinho), Muller, Perisic (66′ Coman); Lewandowski (Ulreich, Hoffmann, Odriozola, Javi Martinez, Cuisance, Hernandez, Zirkzee, Musiala) Coach: Flick |
REFEREE: Skomina (Slovenia)
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Boateng, Davies (BM), Suarez, Jordi Alba (B); Added Time: First Half 0′, Second Half 2′
I saw Busquets get a yellow card shortly before being subed! Am I crazy?