Bayern Munich destroy Barcelona to reach CL semi-finals
Bayern Munich put eight past Barcelona to book a place in semi-finals.
It was a memorable night for Bayern Munich in Europe as they clinched 8-2 win over Barcelona. It was the biggest defeat for the Spanish side in their illustrious Champions League history. Quick braces from Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho, while solitary goals from Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich, and Ivan Perisic steered Die Roten to this historic result.
Hansi Flick decided to stick with the same starting lineup that featured against Chelsea last weekend. Kingsley Coman was completely fit to start, but Flick decided to reward Perisic for his good performance against the English side.
Meanwhile, Quique Setien made two changes to the side which defeated Napoli last weekend. Sergio Busquets replaced Ivan Rakitic in the midfield. The Spanish coach decided to beef up the midfield, so he opted for Arturo Vidal instead of Antoine Griezmann.
It was a frantic start to the game as the ball moved like a yo-yo from one box to another. Die Roten opened the scoring in the third minute after Lewandowski held the ball up brilliantly and laid it off for Muller. The German forward rocketed the shot past Marc Ter Stegen.
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Barcelona were shellshocked, but they responded strongly. Fortune favoured them as a strong cross from left-flank was smashed past Manuel Neuer by David Alaba. The Spanish side were on top after getting the equalizer as they hit the woodwork. This was the only good five minutes spell Barcelona had in the complete game.
Die Roten regained control of the game in the 22nd minute through a piercing shot from Perisic. Flick’s men pressed vigorously to win the ball higher up the pitch to pepper Barcelona’s goal. Gnabry got on the act in the 27th minute, while Muller got his second in 31st minute to put the game past Barcelona.
The German champions were in no mood to get their foot off the pedal in the second half. They did concede first in the second half as Luis Suarez provided a glimmer of hope for the Spanish side with a neat individual goal. However, that hope diminished in no time. A brilliant bit of skill from Alphonso Davies set up Kimmich for the fifth goal, putting the game beyond Barcelona.
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Die Roten just went for the kill after this goal as they continued to press aggressively to win the ball in Barcelona’s box let alone in their half. Lewandowski got his goal while Coutinho rubbed salt in the Spanish side’s wounds by scoring two late goals. There was hardly any poor performance in Bayern’s team as they send out a statement to other contenders in the competition. Flick got his tactics right in yet another game as they are now only two steps away from a sixth Champions League win.
"Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1)NeuerKimmich-Boateng-Alaba-DaviesThiago-GoretzkaGnabry-Muller-PerisicLewandowskiSubstitutes: Ulreich, Hoffmann,Odriozola, Sule (↓Boateng (76′)), Martinez, Coutinho (↓Gnabry (75′)), Cuisance, Hernandez (↓Davies (84′)), Tolisso (↓Goretzka 84(‘)), Coman (↓Perisic(67’)), Zirkzee, Tillman, MusialaBarcelona (4-3-1-2)Ter StegenSemedo-Pique-Lenglet-AlbaRoberto-Busquets-De JongVidalSuarez-MessiSubstitutes: Neto, Pena, Rakitic, Dembele, Griezmann (↓Roberto (46′)), Firpo, Puig, Fati (↓Busquets (70′)), Araujo, Monchu, Mingueza, Reis"