Today four years ago, German champions Bayern Munich crushed Barcelona with an 8-2 victory on Friday, advancing them to the Champions League semi-finals in spectacular style. Thomas Mueller scored twice for Bayern, as they were leading 4-1 after 31 incredible minutes, as Lionel Messi and his teammates were subjected to a humiliating defeat that seemed like the end of an era for the historic Catalan club.
Both teams have won European championships five times. However, although Bayern Munich appear to have a real chance of adding a sixth trophy next week, Barcelona is definitely facing serious rebuilding work, and it remains to be seen how many of those engaged in this tragedy will remain at the club.
The result brought up memories of Germany's 7-1 victory over Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, a match in which Hansi Flick, the assistant coach for Bayern Munich, was benched. Mueller headed in Ivan Perisic's cross from the left and cleverly played a one-two with Robert Lewandowski before blasting home to give Bayern the lead in the fourth minute.
Watch here the full video:
🇪🇺⚡️ 4 YEARS AGO TODAY... 🤯
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) August 14, 2024
Bayern Munich 8-2 Barcelona. pic.twitter.com/6Xt7odvx8y
Meanwhile, after just three minutes, Barca had responded. David Alaba attempted to handle Jordi Alba's deep cross, but the ball flew past Manuel Neuer, the Barcelona goalkeeper after Clement Lenglet's very long pass found him in space. Neuer then had to be quick off his line to save a goal-bound Luis Suarez, but he was almost caught off guard by Messi's cross-shot from the right, which drifted across the area and hit the post.
Bayern Munich won their sixth UEFA Champions League title
Bayern then added a third as Barcelona's defence was easily breached once again. Thiago Alcantara was allowed enough room in midfield to find Leon Goretzka, whose fantastic pass found Gnabry, who had gotten behind Lenglet and finished flawlessly.
On loan from Barcelona, Philippe Coutinho, the substitute, floated over a cross from the left, which Lewandowski solidly headed in at the back post. Before the last minute, Coutinho added two more goals to compound the agony of his injury, and Barcelona collapsed under the Bavarians' incredible skill. Later Bayern Munich faced Paris Saint-Germain in the finals in which Kingsley Coman scored the lone goal in the final as Bayern Munich won the UEFA Champions League for the sixth time.