On Tuesday evening, the 23rd, Barcelona finally managed to break the uncomfortable streak of six consecutive losses to Bayern Munich in Champions League matches with an unforgettable performance at the Olímpico Lluís Companys. Brazilian Raphinha was the great star of the game that marked the third round of the group stage, scoring a brilliant hat-trick on the night of his 100th appearance with the club. To that, there was the goal by former Bayern player Lewandowski to add to the score, and the so-called "law of the ex" proved strong once again. Harry Kane scored Bayern's only goal of the match.
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The 4-1 win laid solid foundations right from the start, as Barcelona dominated a rival which had seemed all but invincible just a few short years ago.
Barcelona's Blistering Start
Scarce time to warm your seat, the action began. Opening minutes, Barcelona presented their agenda-clear, they were not there to kid around. Quickly, Raphinha, after a brilliant pass by Fermín López, sent the goalkeeper Manuel Neuer the wrong way to slot in the opening goal. A start that would set the precedent for most of the match: high-intensity pressure and home team control.
Bayern, who had still not warmed into the game, thought they drew level in the 9th minute only to have the goal disallowed. A moment of reprieve for the Catalans before they shrugged into their stride once more for an eventual equalizer by Harry Kane at 1-1.
Lewandowski and the Law of the Ex
Still, despite the equalizer, Barcelona never lost focus. They remained in control of play with especially the speed of their forwards. In the 35 minutes of play, Lewandowski, the former Bayern striker, had made his mark. After a deflection by Fermín López, the always lethal Polish striker fired home with some misunderstanding in the Bayern rearguard to restore the lead for Barça.
All that did was ensure that the confidence of Barcelona only soared higher from that moment onwards. At the same time, Bayern seemed to be getting increasingly overwhelmed by the continuous wave of pressure applied by the Blaugranas. It further worsened as energy in the stands really worked against the visitors, making it almost suffocatingly difficult for the Germans.
Raphinha Lights It Up with a Hat-Trick
The start of the second half was nearing, and it appeared like Bayern might try to make a comeback. But Barcelona were keen to win the match in style—and they did just that. Following a brisk interchanging of passes, Lamine Yamal did well to find Raphinha in an excellent position on the left side. The Brazilian received with his chest, then attacked with much confidence as he sent a cross-shot into the back of the net with Neuer having no chance. It was Barça's third goal of the night and Raphinha's second.
But the show wasn't finished yet. Just a few minutes later, the Brazilian completed his hat-trick, making himself the outstanding performer of this match. He contributed to 15 goals this season, proving that Raphinha is in a special moment, as he will be a big part of Barcelona's attacking system.
Champions League - Current Situation
With this emphatic victory, Barcelona rose to 10th place in the Champions League standings with six points, while Bayern Munich, with the loss, dropped back to 23rd with just three points-an uncomfortable position, really, for a team that enters practically every competition as one of the favorites.
Besides the worthy points, however, this win came with a lot of significant symbolism. Barcelona had gone through a painful sequence of six games without a victory against Bayern, all in Champions League matches. And to put it into context: in those six games, the Catalans had been able to score only four times, while letting in 22. The last one had been as far back as during the 2014/15 campaign, where Messi and Neymar had led the team to a 3-0 win in the semifinals.
A New Chapter for Barcelona
The victory of 4-1 is more than just three points; this is a new chapter for Barcelona. The convincing win over Bayern not only breaks an uncomfortable losing streak but now, on the whole, signals that the team again competes at a high level against Europe's elite.
Just where Raphinha and Lewandowski stood out from the rest, it was about everything that surrounded them: an ordering and confidence that perhaps Barcelona had lacked in recent years, making them more fearsome in the Champions League. Their collective performance, besides the brilliance of certain individuals, thus far makes crystal clear that Barça is not contented with participation alone; they position themselves as serious contenders for the title.