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Barcelona 4:1 Bayern (October 23, 2024) Match analysis

Barcelona 4:1 Bayern (October 23, 2024) Match analysis

Barcelona captain Raphinha scored a hat trick to secure a commanding 4-1 home win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday, ending a nearly decade-long winning streak against the German powerhouse.

After six consecutive defeats in which Bayern scored 22-4, including a humiliating 8-2 defeat in the quarter-finals of the Champions League four years ago, Barcelona returned the favor with a magnificent attacking performance led by their Brazilian captain.

Raphinha's brilliant evening began when he gave Barca the lead just over a minute after kick-off when he received a fine pass from midfielder Fermín López, beat the offside trap and rounded the onrushing Manuel Neuer before tapping into the empty net.

Bayern seemed unaffected by the setback and were largely in control of the home side, who controlled the counterattack well and took advantage of the speed of Raphinha and Lamine Yamal.

Although Barca looked dangerous with the ball and were always just a quick counterattack away from the goal, they were far from imposing on the defense and giving too much space to Bayern, who could have done better with the many chances they had must.

Bayern wingers Serge Gnabry and Michael Olise were a constant threat against Barca coach Hansi Flick's aggressively high defensive line.

The visiting team thought they had equalized in the 10th minute through a header from Harry Kane, but his attempt was ruled out after the VAR replay caught the England striker slightly offside.

Raphinha (center) celebrates after scoring a goal for Barcelona against Bayern in the Champions League.
Raphinha (center) celebrates after scoring a goal for Barcelona against Bayern in the Champions League.

Eight minutes later, however, a volley from Kane after a cross from Gnabry equalized.

After Olise and Joshua Kimmich missed good chances from close range, it was Barca who took the lead again in the 36th minute when Kim Min-Jae failed to keep out a high ball and Fermin Lopez sent the ball between Neuer and Dayot Upamecano to Robert Lewandowski who tapped into an empty net.

Bayern players complained heavily to the referee, saying that Lopez had pushed Kim in the build-up, but the VAR did not consider the contact was enough to be considered a violation.

Barca ratcheted up their intensity against a visiting team that looked stunned, and Raphinha scored a brilliant curling shot from the edge of the box just before half-time after receiving a cross pass from Marc Casadó.

Raphinha crowned Barca's win in the 56th minute with a clinical finish after another quick counter-attack and Bayern looked stunned as the home crowd chanted “Ole” to turn Barcelona's Olympic Stadium into a bullring.

A day after his compatriot Vinicius Junior scored a hat-trick to help Real Madrid to a 5-2 comeback win over Borussia Dortmund, Raphinha's performance against another German giant set the perfect scenario for a highly anticipated game Clasico against Madrid in LaLiga on Saturday.

“Look at what happened yesterday (in Madrid) and today and you can see how good the game will be on Saturday. A Clasico is one of the best games in the world,” Raphinha told Movistar Plus.

“It's an evening to be very happy about. For the game, what we did as a team. That's the most important thing for me. To be able to win like this in front of our fans is something special.”

Barca are ninth in the Champions League standings with six points from three games, while Bayern are in 23rd with three points after their second straight defeat.

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