A status of great favorite more than ever confirmed. Bayern Munich, by outclassing FC Barcelona under Lionel Messi (8-2) in the Champions League quarter-final on Friday, delivered a new football lesson, asserting itself as the team to beat in European competition .
Too strong, too fast, too powerful. Like the indestructible Thomas Müller, spearhead of the Bavarian steamroller with a double (4th, 31st), Bayern has once again demonstrated its unmatched strike force since the resumption of competitions.
After dominating the opposition in Germany with a league-cup double and sweeping Chelsea in the previous round (3-0; 4-1), the German giant continued his unbeaten streak in the Champions League against Barcelona this season, for a record of nine victories in nine matches, 39 goals scored against 8 conceded. Simply monstrous.
First fatal half hour
With such supersonic start to matches, symbolized by an opening of the scoring from the 4th minute, PSG, Leipzig, Manchester City and Lyon, the last opponents still in the running, have in any case big concerns to be made.
On a block, Ivan Perisic finds Müller at the entrance to the area, who succeeds in a beautiful sequence: after feigning the volley, the German world champion manages to rely on Lewandowski, caught in the vise in the surface, to resume from the left instantly. Unstoppable!
But drama in the wake. Bayern put their opponent back in the game when Alaba, wanting to remove the ball promised to Luis Suarez, saw his defensive tackle turn into a goal against his own side (1-1, 7th).
After this happy equalizer, Barcelona gained confidence and Suarez, without a Neuer of the great nights, could have given the advantage to his team in the wake (9th) ... just like the center-shot of Messi, who finished on the post of the German doorman (10th)!
Two big trompe l'oeil opportunities, however, as Bayern monopolized the ball and dominated the proceedings.
And by increasing the pressure, the Bavarians ended up finding the flaw following a ball recovered in the opposing camp and then transformed by Perisic, with an overpowering left shot that Ter Stegen could not deflect (2-1, 21st). The lesson continued with the 3rd goal signed Gnabry (3-1, 27th). On a school action, a three-way game in one touch, the German winger has weighed down the mark and poses the threat of a drop.
Doubled by Müller ... and Coutinho
Fears confirmed just five minutes later by Müller's double, more aggressive than Clément Lenglet to cut the center of Joshua Kimmich (4-1, 31st). Enough to fold the case in half an hour of play, and inflict on Barça its worst first period in an official match since February 13, 1994.
If Suarez scored the goal of hope after returning from the locker room (4-2, 57th) on an individual achievement, Alphonso Davies quickly extinguished dreams of "remountada". After an incredible number on his left side where he caught a cold Nelson Semedo, the supersonic side sank into the area to address a center back perfect for Kimmich (5-2, 63rd). The ex-Barcelonan Philippe Coutinho, author of a perfect cross for Lewandowski (6-2, 82nd) after his entry, concluded the recital with an express double (7-2, 85th; 8-2, 89th). 1st class actions of a one-sided game.