Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich: Barca crash out of Champions League in Lisbon rout

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Joe Krishnan14 August 2020

Bayern Munich scored eight goals as a humiliated Barcelona crashed out of the Champions League following an 8-2 mauling in Lisbon.

Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho both bagged a brace, while Serge Gnabry, Ivan Perisic, Joshua Kimmich and a David Alaba own goal annihilated a poor Barcelona side.

Hansi Flick had guided Bayern to an incredible run of 22 wins in 23 games, with 18 victories in a row and headed into this tie feeling confident after dismantling Chelsea 4-1 in the last-16 knockout round second leg.

It was no surprise to see the German stick to his guns and keep an unchanged starting line-up, while Barcelona head coach Quique Setien made a surprise call to start Arturo Vidal and keep Antoine Griezmann on the bench with a diamond midfield.

Much had been said in the build-up to this game about whether Robert Lewandowski could match up to Lionel Messi. With 53 goals in 44 appearances, it was certainly an argument that held some credibility.

But a big part of Lewandowski's success was the unheralded Thomas Muller, who had racked up an astonishing 21 assists in the Bundesliga. This time, it was time for the Pole to return the favour - and that he did.

With just four minutes on the clock, Bayern moved it forward down the left with Ivan Perisic lofting a cross to Muller on the edge of the box. He performed an intelligent fake shot, instead exchanging a one-two with Lewandowski and shooting low into the corner past Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

It was a brilliant goal which did more to highlight Bayern's ruthless finishing more than anything. But at the back, the German champions were badly exposed by their extremely high line and paid the price.

Clement Lenglet clipped a ball into Jordi Alba's path and he squared it to Luis Suarez. But in attempting to clear it, the Austrian managed to loop the ball over his goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and into the top corner. A fine finish, just at the wrong end.

Barcelona had their foot firmly on the gas and were finding space in behind that high line. Two chances arrived in as many minutes, with Suarez denied by Neuer and Messi's free-kick beating everyone but the post.

As both sides enjoyed spells in possession, it was Bayern's relentless pressing that helped them retake the lead. Sergi Roberto was swamped by three white shirts and Alphonso Davies passed it wide to Ivan Perisic, whose low strike - with the aid of a dlefection from Lenglet - squeezed past Ter Stegen.

The heavens opened after that strike and Barcelona were quite simply crumbling under the pressure. Thiago's sublime no-look pass found Lewandowski, who crafted a perfect ball over the top to Serge Gnabry and he finished with composure and precison to extend the advantage to 3-1.

Four minutes later, it was four. Muller was at the right place at the right time to meet Leon Goretzka's near-post delivery and prodded past the helpless Ter Stegen.

Bayern began to hunt down a Barcelona side lacking composure on the ball and only Lewandowski will know how he didn't add his name to the growing scoresheet.

Luis Suarez got one back for Barcelona and with half an hour still to go, a comeback was not out of the question.

But Bayern, having brought on Coutinho to face his parent club, were hoping to create something special. And when Alphonso Davies sold Nelson Semedo with a fine piece of skill, Kimmich tapped home to make it five.

The warning signs were there when Lewandowski was denied his goal by the offside there. Still, Barcelona didn't take notice and began to crumble.

Coutinho dribbled down the left, found Lewandowski in the box and the Pole made it 14 goals in the Champions League - and six for Bayern. VAR took a long time to review the goal for offside, but it stood.

And Setien's side simply threw in the towel. Coutinho, perhaps acting with a sense of vengence, reacted first after some awful defending from the Blaugrana to tap home. He got a second three minutes later, sliding home into the bottom corner.

The humiliation was truly completed. Setien turned away with a lost look in his eyes and Barca trudged off the pitch in shame. Their worst-ever defeat in Europe - and a capitulation of this kind was a perfect exhibition of just how far they have fallen.

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14 August 2020

Setien to opt for 4-4-2 against Bayern?

According to Barcelona-based paper Sport, coach Quique Setien is set to pick four midfielders for the Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich tonight.

Sport say the 61-year-old has decided to select Sergio Busquets and Arturo Vidal (both back after serving suspensions against Napoli), along with Sergi Roberto and Frenkie de Jong.

That would see Antoine Griezmann drop to the bench, with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez starting in attack at the Estadio Da Luz.

Photo: Getty Images

14 August 2020

No positive tests ahead of Bayern clash

All of Barcelona players have taken Covid-19 tests ahead of their Champions League quarter-final clash against Bayern Munich in Lisbon tonight. None have registered positive results.

Earlier this week, Barca revealed that one of their players starting pre-season had tested positive for coronavirus, later revealed to be defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

The Frenchman, who is now self-isolating at home, had not been in contact with any members of the club's first-team squad prior to their trip to Portugal.

Photo: Getty Images

14 August 2020

Flick: This is not Bayern vs Messi

Bayern Munich coach Hansi Flick has dismissed suggestions that tonight's tie is his side versus Lionel Messi, but admits he has a plan to stop the Argentine.

"This is not Bayern-Messi, it’s Bayern-Barca,” Flick said in his press conference on Thursday.

“Of course we have a plan to stop Messi, but I’m not going to reveal it. The important thing is the group. We have to be astute, close the spaces and put pressure on them, win the duels.”

Photo: Getty Images

14 August 2020

Dembele back for Barcelona

Ousmane Dembele has not played for Barcelona since limping off against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League last November and then suffering a serious hamstring injury as he closed in on a return in February.

But the French forward is back in Barca's squad for the Champions League final phase and coach Quique Setien has admitted he could feature from the bench against Bayern Munich tonight.

"He could play some minutes," the 61-year-old said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

Photo: Getty Images

14 August 2020

Collective can make Messi stronger, says Setien

Barcelona coach Quique Setien admits captain Lionel Messi could be key in tonight's match, but has insisted a strong collective display will help the Argentine to succeed.

"Messi can help us win the match, but I have always believed in the strength of the team," he said on Thursday in the pre-match press conference.

"It's true that we have to assist Messi, but without the strength of the team, Leo would be less, just like any other player we could highlight."

Photo: Getty Images

14 August 2020

Setien: Lewandowski not at Messi's level

Barcelona coach Quique Setien says Robert Lewandowski is not at Lionel Messi's level after claims that the Bayern Munich striker is superior to the Argentine attacker.

Bayern icons Lothar Matthaus and Giovane Elber both spiced up the build-up to tonight's quarter-final tie by declaring that the Polish frontman is ahead of the Barca captain on current form.

Photo: AP

"Lewandowski is a great footballer, but he's not on Leo's level – that's clear," Setien said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

"He [Lewandowski] has scored 13 goals in the Champions League and he is well assisted by his team-mates. He's in a great moment, but Leo is too, as we saw against Napoli."

14 August 2020

Barca and Bayern met in 2013 and 2015

The last two meetings between Barcelona and Bayern in the Champions League came in the semi-finals, with two-legged ties in 2012-13 and 2014-15.

In the first of those, Bayern won 7-0 on aggregate against a Barca side missing coach Tito Vilanova due to his cancer treatment and with Lionel Messi injured.

Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Barca then came out on top with a 5-2 aggregate success in 2015 after a 3-0 win at Camp Nou and a 3-2 loss at the Allianz Arena.

Both teams went on to win the treble after their respective victories.

14 August 2020

Vidal fires warning to Bayern: Barca are world's best team

Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal has told former club Bayern Munich that they will be up against the "best team in the world" and a footballer from another planet on Friday night.

The build-up to the Champions League quarter-final clash in Lisbon has been spiced up by some bravado from the German side, with former players Lothar Matthaus and Giovane Elber both claiming that Robert Lewandowski is currently better than Lionel Messi.

"I have heard what Bayern have said, but I know the people there and I know what is talked about outside and what they think inside [the club]," Vidal said in Thursday's pre-match press conference.

Photo: Getty Images

"They are playing against Barca, not against teams from the Bundesliga. They are playing against the best team in the world."

And on the comparison between Lewandowski and Messi, the Chilean said: "Lewa is extraordinary. I was with him for three years and I know how he prepares.

"It's very difficult to compare anyone with Leo. He's from another planet. Although Lewa is the best striker in the world, together with Luis Suarez."

14 August 2020

Barcelona & Bayern Munich seek semi-final spot

With Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig already through to the Champions League semi-finals, Barcelona and Bayern Munich meet tonight for a place in the last four of the competition.

The two FCBs are the only previous winners still left in the Champions League and both teams are in search of a sixth European Cup.

Photo: Getty Images

14 August 2020

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