Barcelona ended a spectacular six-game losing streak against Bayern Munich, defeating the six-time champions 4-1 at the Olympic Stadium in their Champions League group stage clash. Raphinha delivered a stunning performance, netting a hat-trick, while Robert Lewandowski also found the back of the net for the Catalans. Despite a goal from Harry Kane, Bayern struggled to keep pace, leaving the Bundesliga side with just one win from their first three group games.
Hansi Flick, who once oversaw Bayern's infamous 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in 2020, now led the Spanish side to a dominant victory highlighting their potential to win the Champions League for the first time since 2015.
The defeat leaves Bayern in the bottom half of the group table, while Barcelona moved into the top third with two wins from three matches. Raphinha, reflecting on the victory, told Movistar, "This game could have been a Champions League final. To win it in this way, in front of our fans, is special."
Barcelona, preparing for their weekend El Clásico against Real Madrid, started the match with a bang. Raphinha scored inside the first minute, rounding Bayern’s Manuel Neuer after being played through by Fermin Lopez. Although Kane equalized for Bayern in the 18th minute with an acrobatic finish from Serge Gnabry's cross, Barcelona quickly regained control.
Lopez played a key role again, assisting Lewandowski for Barcelona’s second goal after outmuscling Bayern’s Kim Min-jae. Lewandowski, who now has 15 goals in 13 appearances under Flick, has been revitalized since the coach’s arrival.
Raphinha continued to shine, scoring a spectacular third goal before halftime, curling the ball through Dayot Upamecano's legs and past Neuer. He completed his hat-trick early in the second half, chesting down a long pass from Lamine Yamal before firing a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
Bayern's coach Vincent Kompany responded with four substitutions, bringing on big names like Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane, but it was too late to change the game. Barcelona’s fans cheered as their team confidently passed the ball around, savoring the long-awaited revenge for previous defeats against Bayern.
"Today was revenge for the fans," said Raphinha, who was lifted into the air by his teammates at full-time while clutching the match ball. After not reaching the Champions League semifinals since 2019, belief is growing in Catalonia that Flick could restore Barcelona’s place among Europe's elite.
For Bayern, it was a difficult night. "We gave 100 percent, but it wasn’t enough today," admitted Kompany, acknowledging that key moments went against them and led to the heavy defeat.
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