Raphinha delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a stunning hat-trick as Barcelona triumphed over Bayern Munich with a commanding 4-1 victory in a thrilling Champions League clash on Wednesday.
Having lost their last six encounters against Bayern, the Catalans showcased their superiority at the Olympic Stadium. Alongside Raphinha’s impressive display, Robert Lewandowski also contributed to the scoreline, while England star Harry Kane found the net for the visitors.
This emphatic win under the guidance of coach Hansi Flick, who experienced a humiliating 8-2 defeat against Barcelona in 2020, signals a potential resurgence for the Catalan giants as they aim for their first Champions League trophy since 2015.
The defeat leaves Bayern with only one victory from their first three group games, placing them in the lower half of the table, while Barcelona secured two wins, positioning themselves in the upper third.
Flick made the bold choice to start Spanish midfielder Fermin Lopez for his first match of the season following an injury, while Bayern’s coach Vincent Kompany opted to field Serge Gnabry in place of Jamal Musiala, who was benched due to fitness concerns.
Barcelona wasted no time in asserting their dominance, scoring just one minute into the match. Lopez played a key role, setting up Raphinha, who celebrated his 100th appearance for the club by dribbling around Manuel Neuer and calmly finishing into the net.
Harry Kane had a chance to equalize shortly after, but a heavy touch allowed Inaki Pena to make a crucial save. Moments later, Kane did manage to find the back of the net with a header, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Bayern continued to press forward, but Barcelona’s solid defense and clinical finishing proved decisive in this exhilarating encounter.