Football: Bayern humiliates Barça in the Champions League

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

4 min

Bayern Munich have qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League where they will face Olympique Lyonnais or Manchester City on August 19. The German club humiliated FC Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter-finals, this August 14, 2020 in Lisbon. Never seen.

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It was said that Bayern Munich, author of an impressive 2019-2020 season, was favorite for this "Final 8" of the Champions League and that FC Barcelona was nothing more than the parody of the club that had reigned over football Spanish in recent years.

The quarter-final between these two behemoths of European football - five Champions League victories each - more than confirmed these assertions. The German champions have indeed humiliated their opponents like never before thanks, in particular, to a crazy start to the match.

A crazy start to the match

Better not to be late in front of your television set (since spectators were prohibited at the stadium, due to the coronavirus crisis). From the 4th minute, Thomas Mueller opened the scoring for Bayern with a half-volley. The striker takes advantage of a subtle one-two with Robert Lewandowski to deceive his compatriot Marc-André ter Stegen: 0-1.

Shortly after, unfortunately for the Munich, David Alaba sends the ball to the back of his own net, trying to clear it: 1-1, 7th. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who could not do anything at the time, is however imperial against a Luis Suarez launched in depth (9th) then on an insufficiently supported shot from Lionel Messi (20th). The German goalkeeper also has maximum success when he sees the ball hitting his right upright on a cross from Messi (10th).

The Bavarian steamroller

The people of Barcelona will very quickly regret these missed opportunities. In the 21st minute, Ivan Perisic overflows on the left and pulls hard. Defender Clément Lenglet slightly deviates the trajectory of the ball, which has the effect of disturbing ter Stegen: 1-2.

Then it was Serge Gnabry's turn to speed up a submerged Catalan rearguard. The winger is superbly launched in the axis of the opponent's area thanks to a deviation from Leon Goretzka. He adjusts ter Stegen with a shot in the race: 1-3, 27th.

Mueller then scored a double by cutting the path of a powerful cross from the right: 1-4. For the first time in the Champions League, Barça conceded four goals in one half… Incredible.

Unnecessary Barça adjustments

In the second half, coach Quique Setién has no other option but to play the attack by bringing in, for example, Frenchman Antoine Griezmann. A choice that pays off when Luis Suarez reduces the score with a superb fake shot and then a cross shot (2-4, 57th). But it is also a very risky strategy against euphoric Bavarians.

Ter Stegen thus sees the German waves breaking on his cage. In the 62nd minute, Alphonso Davies overflows on the left and crosses back towards a Joshua Kimmich who only has to conclude at close range: 2-5. The ordeal of Messi and his band is far from over, however, with a header from the Pole Robert Lewandowski (2-6, 82nd). Ultimate affront, a former FC Barcelona already very heavy addition: the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho scores a double (85th, 89th) which brings the score to 8-2!

This is the worst humiliation in Barça's history in European cups. The bankruptcy of the “Blaugrana” is total and the triumph of Bayern phenomenal. Olympique Lyonnais and Manchester City, who face each other this August 15 for the last ticket to the semi-finals, are warned. They will have an ogre in front of them on August 19.

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