After enduring six painful defeats over 9 lengthy years, Barcelona has lastly damaged the dreaded Bayern Munich curse, bagging a smashing 4-1 victory of their UEFA Champions League Matchday 3 assembly on Wednesday evening, October 24. Barca’s captain for the evening, Raphinha, ran the present, scoring a sensational hat-trick in opposition to the Bavarians.
Barcelona Hits Bayern Arduous and Quick
Hansi Flick, who masterminded Bayern’s historic 8-2 overcome Barca within the 2019-20 Champions League quarter-finals, fielded a pace-packed XI on Wednesday. He needed to take advantage of Bayern Munich’s vulnerability to counter-attacks, and his technique paid dividends contained in the opening minute.
Making mild work of Bayern’s urgent, Barcelona performed out of the again, with the ball finally discovering its strategy to Fermin Lopez in the midst of the park. The Spaniard lobbed the ball by way of to a sprinting Raphinha. Having overwhelmed the offside lure, the Brazilian went one-on-one with Manuel Neuer earlier than rounding him and sending the ball into the again of the web.
Within the tenth minute, Harry Kane hit the again of the web for Bayern Munich. Nonetheless, a fast VAR test confirmed that the Englishman had gone a tad too early, ruling the purpose out for offside. Kane discovered the netting as soon as extra within the 18th minute, and this time, there was no offside flag to save lots of the hosts.
Nonetheless, not like in earlier years, the Bayern purpose didn’t break Barcelona. They bought themselves again up once more and restored their cushion within the thirty sixth minute, with ex-Bayern hitman Robert Lewandowski making use of the completion following a passage of horrendous defending.
Raphinha Takes Residence the Match Ball In opposition to Bayern Munich
Within the forty fifth minute, Barcelona snatched the insurance coverage purpose, due to a sensational solo effort from Raphinha. Receiving an extended ball from Marc Casado on the left flank, the jet-heeled Brazilian sharply lower inside earlier than curling the ball into the far-bottom nook, below strain from two defenders.
The previous Leeds United ahead accomplished his hat-trick within the 56th minute, and as soon as once more, a La Masia graduate turned supplier. Lamine Yamal picked out Raphinha’s run by way of the center with an extended ball from the fitting flank. With out breaking his stride, the 27-year-old expertly acquired the ball along with his chest, beat Min-Jae Kim and Dayot Upamecano in a foot race, and drilled a low end past Neuer. Barca created just a few extra probabilities earlier than the ultimate whistle however Bayern in some way averted additional embarrassment.
Raphinha took house the match ball in addition to the Man of the Match award on the finish of the sport. Along with scoring a smashing hat-trick, he created two probabilities, had 5 touches contained in the opposition field, and gained three floor duels.
Barcelona will return to motion with a mouth-watering tussle in opposition to arch-rivals Actual Madrid — who additionally battered a German workforce this week — on Saturday, October 26.
