Barcelona showcased a commanding performance against Bayern Munich at the Olympic Stadium, ending their six-match losing streak against the German giants. The Catalans, under Hansi Flick’s management, outplayed the six-time champions, with Robert Lewandowski also contributing to the scoreline, while England star Harry Kane found the net for Bayern.
The emphatic victory for Barcelona indicates their potential to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy for the first time since 2015, after a decade filled with disappointments. The defeat leaves Bayern Munich with just one win from their opening three group games, placing them in the lower half of the table, while Barcelona sits comfortably in the top third with two victories.
Flick made a significant move by starting Spanish midfielder Fermin Lopez, who was making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. In contrast, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany opted for Serge Gnabry in place of Jamal Musiala, who was fit only for the bench.
Barcelona struck early, capitalizing on their previous struggles against Bayern, having failed to score in their last four encounters. Within the first minute, Lopez played a crucial pass to Raphinha, who was behind Bayern’s high defensive line. The Brazilian winger, wearing the captain’s armband for his 100th appearance for the club, displayed composure as he dribbled around goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to slot the ball home.
Bayern Munich responded with pressure, and Kane had a chance to equalize but was denied by Barcelona goalkeeper Inaki Pena after taking a heavy touch. The English forward, who had recently broken a scoring drought with a hat-trick against Stuttgart, found the net shortly after but was ruled offside.
Despite the setback, Bayern continued their offensive play, and Kane eventually found the back of the net in the 18th minute. He finished acrobatically from a cross by Gnabry, showcasing Barcelona’s defensive vulnerabilities as Bayern exploited their high defensive line.
The match highlighted Barcelona’s resurgence and offered a glimpse of their title aspirations as they aim to reclaim their status in European football.