A compassionate Bayern Munich on Friday brought a humiliating, record-breaking defeat to Barcelona, recording a convincing 8-2 victory in their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon to lose Lionel Messi and rush to the end of an era in Catalonia . Thomas Mueller scored twice opposite goals from goals by Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry in a magnificent opening in the 31st minute at an empty Estadio da Luz, with an own goal from David Alaba that Barcelona had brought back shortly. Luis Suarez pulled it back to 4-2 at one point in the second half, but Barcelona then caught up, with Joshua Kimmich getting Bayern his fifth before three more goals in the final stages, one for the prolific Robert Lewandowski and two for substitute Philippe Coutinho.
That was the really humiliating part for the abusive side, with Coutinho on loan in Bavaria from Barcelona, who spent 160 million euros on signing the Brazilian in 2018, but never got the best out of him.
“We knew it was never easy against Barcelona, but this is an unbelievable result,” said Kimmich. “It’s hard to understand.”
It is the worst European defeat of Barcelona and the worst of Messi’s career. The game was reminiscent of Germany’s 7-1 destruction of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, a game in which Mueller also played and scored.
Germany went on to win the World Cup and Bayern are looking for a good bet to win this Champions League, although they will surely be up for a tougher test in the semi-finals, regardless of whether it is against Manchester City or Lyon.
“In the 7-1 victory in Brazil we did not have the same amount of control. Yes, we were good, but last night the way we dominated the game was brutal,” said Mueller.
This was Bayern’s 19th consecutive victory in all leagues, and a 28th game unbeaten for Hansi Flick’s side. They have now scored 39 goals in nine Champions League outings this season.
End of an era
But the story of this game is the remarkable capitulation of Barcelona and the question is what happens to them now.
Messi was 27 when they last won the Champions League in 2015. He is now 33 and this game may make his thoughts that he should finally leave the Camp Nou if he wins it again.
Barca have been here almost before: They were knocked out by Bayern in the semi-finals of 2013, losing 7-0 overall, but this was eight goals in 90 minutes.
And with an aging team of six players aged 31 or older, this should be the end of an era.
“I do not know how to label it,” Gerard Pique said.
“The club needs changes. I’m not talking about the level of players as a coach, but structurally the club needs all kinds of changes.”
Coach Quique Setien will certainly not survive. His team, already second in Real Madrid in La Liga, just could not keep up with the pressure from Bayern.
Bayern took the lead in the fourth minute, when Mueller controlled a ball from the left by Perisic and played a one-two with Lewandowski to push a shot low past compatriot Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
They left themselves open at the back and parity was restored when Alaba, in an attempt to stop Jordi Alba’s cross, cut the ball over Manuel Neuer and into his own net.
For a very short speech, Barca were even on top, as Neuer’s save from Suarez and a Messi cross from the far end came up.
But Bayern defeated their opponents with their pressure, going halfway through the first half. Gnabry regained possession on the edge of the final third before passing Perisic, who shot past Ter Stegen and into the far corner.
That was the first of three goals in a ten-minute game.
Leon Goretzka’s defensive touch over the top brought Clement Lenglet out and Gnabry headed home to make it 3-1. Then Mueller stole for Lenglet to turn in Kimmich’s delivery from the right for 4-1.
Suarez briefly gave Barca something to hang on to as he controlled Alba’s assist, bodyguarded away from Jerome Boateng and shot home.
Promoted
However, there would be no comeback, as Kimmich converted Bayern’s fifth to a remarkable assist from Alphonso Davies, and then Lewandowski crossed into Coutinho’s cross to make it six.
When Barcelona collapsed, Coutinho made the sand in the 85th minute at the end of a move when Messi was robbed of possession and then had time to score another in the 88th minute.
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