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A cruel Bayern Munich inflicted a humiliating, document defeat on Barcelona on Friday, recording a scarcely plausible 8-2 victory of their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon to depart Lionel Messi forlorn and certainly hastening ultimately of an period in Catalonia. Thomas Mueller scored twice both aspect of targets from Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry in a surprising opening 31 minutes at an empty Estadio da Luz, with a David Alaba own-goal having briefly introduced Barcelona again stage. Luis Suarez pulled it again to 4-2 at one level within the second half, however Barcelona then caved in, with Joshua Kimmich getting Bayern’s fifth earlier than three extra targets within the ultimate levels, one for the prolific Robert Lewandowski and two for substitute Philippe Coutinho.
That was the actually humiliating half for the crushed aspect, with Coutinho on mortgage in Bavaria from Barcelona, who spent 160 million euros on signing the Brazilian in 2018 however by no means obtained the perfect out of him.
“We knew it is never easy against Barcelona, but this is an unbelievable result,” mentioned Kimmich. “It’s hard to comprehend.”
It is Barcelona’s worst European defeat and the worst of Messi’s profession. The sport was eerily paying homage to Germany’s 7-1 destruction of Brazil within the 2014 World Cup, a sport by which Mueller additionally performed and scored.
Germany went on to win that World Cup and Bayern look a great guess to win this Champions League, though they may certainly face a sterner check within the semi-final no matter whether or not it’s in opposition to Manchester City or Lyon.
“In the 7-1 win in Brazil we didn’t have the same amount of control. Yes we were good but tonight the way we dominated the game was brutal,” mentioned Mueller.
This was Bayern’s 19th consecutive victory in all competitions, and a 28th sport unbeaten for Hansi Flick’s aspect. They have now scored 39 targets in 9 Champions League outings this season.
End of an period
But the story of this sport is Barcelona’s outstanding capitulation and the query is what occurs to them now.
Messi was 27 after they final gained the Champions League in 2015. He is 33 now and this sport might make up his thoughts that he must lastly go away the Camp Nou if he’s to win it once more.
Barca have nearly been right here earlier than: They have been torn aside by Bayern within the 2013 semi-finals, shedding 7-Zero on mixture, however this was eight targets in 90 minutes.
And with an ageing workforce that includes six gamers aged 31 or older, this needs to be the top of an period.
“I don’t know how to label it,” mentioned Gerard Pique.
“The club needs changes. I’m not talking about the level of the players or coach, but structurally the club needs all sorts of changes.”
Coach Quique Setien will definitely not survive. His workforce, having already come second to Real Madrid in La Liga, merely couldn’t address Bayern’s urgent.
Bayern went forward within the fourth minute as Mueller managed a ball in from the left by Perisic and performed a one-two with Lewandowski to scuff a shot low previous compatriot Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
They did go away themselves open on the again and parity was restored when Alaba, in trying to cease Jordi Alba’s cross, sliced the ball over Manuel Neuer and into his personal internet.
For a really transient spell Barca have been even on prime, as Neuer saved from Suarez and a Messi cross got here again off the far upright.
But Bayern, suffocating their opponents with their urgent, went again in entrance halfway by means of the primary half. Gnabry gained again possession on the sting of the ultimate third earlier than feeding Perisic, who fired previous Ter Stegen and into the far nook.
That was the primary of three targets in a 10-minute spell.
Leon Goretzka’s deft contact excessive took out Clement Lenglet and Gnabry drilled residence to make it 3-1. Then Mueller stole in entrance of Lenglet to show in Kimmich’s supply from the proper for 4-1.
Suarez briefly gave Barca one thing to cling to as he managed Alba’s help, bodyswerved away from Jerome Boateng and fired residence.
Promoted
Yet there can be no comeback, as Kimmich transformed Bayern’s fifth following a outstanding help by Alphonso Davies, after which Lewandowski headed in Coutinho’s cross to make it six.
As Barcelona collapsed, Coutinho made it seven within the 85th minute on the finish of a transfer began when Messi was robbed of possession after which had time to attain one other within the 88th minute.
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