Barcelona delivered a breathtaking performance on Wednesday evening, crushing Bayern Munich 4-1 in a stunning upset that will send shockwaves throughout European football.
Barcelona took the lead within a minute as Raphinha expertly evaded Bayern’s offside trap, rounded Manuel Neuer and finished coolly. Bayern thought they had equalised through Harry Kane’s brilliant header, but VAR ruled it offside.
Kane eventually scored in the 20th minute with an exquisite volley from Serge Gnabry’s cross. However, Barcelona regained the lead after the half-hour mark thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s excellent finish, assisted by Fermin Lopez.
Raphinha added his second on the stroke of half-time, unleashing a powerful strike from the edge of the box following Marc Casado’s pinpoint cross-field pass.
Ten minutes into the second half, Raphinha sealed his hat-trick, chesting Lamine Yamal’s long ball forward, taking two touches and powering an effort into the bottom corner.
This victory will undoubtedly pile pressure on Bayern Munich, especially given Hansi Flick’s past affiliation with the club. Barcelona’s impressive display underlines their resurgence under Xavi Hernandez’s leadership.
Image Credit: AFP