Picture Courtesy -- Barca Universal
As Barca seek redemption, we look back at the infamous 8-2 defeat
The stage is set for yet another thrilling encounter between European giants Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. With both teams having started their respective league campaigns with a bang, this midweek match promises to be intense. Barcelona is flying high in La Liga, topping the table with eight wins from nine matches. Key players like Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha have been instrumental in their dominance. Despite some injury concerns, Bayern Munich has shown their typical resilience in the Bundesliga.
JUST IN!#UEFA Champions Leagueđ ticket are in and available for sale right now for the following match!
â EventTickets (@event_tix) October 6, 2024
Match: Barcelona vs. Bayern
đď¸: Camp Nou
đď¸: 23/10/2024
â°: 20:00
This will be a special one.#ChampionsLeague #UCL #Europe #Bayern #BarcelonaSC #FCBBAY #Barca #FCB #BAY pic.twitter.com/zKD4XtNVwG
Bayern vs Barça in the UCL league phase.
â StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) August 29, 2024
All-time matchup:
â 10 Bayern wins
â 1 draw
â 2 Barça wins pic.twitter.com/3gF67OOzAY
But for many, the anticipation of this clash is overshadowed by a haunting memoryâthe 8-2 demolition Barcelona suffered at the hands of Bayern in the 2019-2020 quarterfinal. It was a night that stunned the football world and left Barca in tatters. As we look ahead to Wednesdayâs match, itâs impossible not to reflect on what went wrong for the Catalan side during that infamous night in Lisbon.
The year was 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the UEFA Champions League to a closed-door, single-leg format. The scene was set at the EstĂĄdio da Luz in Lisbon, where two of Europeâs most successful teams were about to face off. Barcelona, however, was far from its best, while Bayern was charging toward glory. What followed was a footballing masterclass from Bayern Munich and an embarrassing collapse for Barcelona.
You forgot to add this bro..Bayern 8 : Barcelona 2đ¤Łđ pic.twitter.com/oFvOpLHdA0
â Nungua Burnaboy (@views09) July 3, 2024
From the get-go, Barcelonaâs defence looked shaky. In just the opening ten minutes, Thomas MĂźller had already found the back of the net after a clever one-two with Robert Lewandowski. It was a sign of things to come. Shortly after, Jordi Albaâs cross led to David Alabaâs own goal, which levelled the score. But Bayern didnât let that derail them.
The German side pressed relentlessly, and Barcaâs defence crumbled under the weight. Mistakes were piling up. Sergi Robertoâs passing error gifted Bayern possession in dangerous areas, and before Barca could blink, Ivan PeriĹĄiÄ smashed in a second for the Bavarians. That was the moment the floodgates opened.
đ A year since Barcelona 2-8 Bayern...
â UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 14, 2021
â°â˝ď¸ MĂźller 4'
â°â˝ď¸ Alaba 7' og
â°â˝ď¸ PeriĹĄiÄ 22'
â°â˝ď¸ Gnabry 27'
â°â˝ď¸ MĂźller 31'
â°â˝ď¸ Luis SuĂĄrez 57'
â°â˝ď¸ Kimmich 63'
â°â˝ď¸ Lewandowski 82'
â°â˝ď¸ Coutinho 85'
â°â˝ď¸ Coutinho 89'@FCBayernEN | #UCL pic.twitter.com/rjNavKpsrn
Barcelonaâs backline looked like a house of cards, collapsing with the slightest touch. The duo of Gerard PiquĂŠ and ClĂŠment Lenglet were left chasing shadows as Serge Gnabry added a third, and MĂźllerâs second made it 4-1 by the 31st minute. The defence simply couldnât cope with Bayernâs pace, precision, and pressing.
If the defence was terrible, the midfield wasnât much better. Barcelonaâs engine room, once the pride of their team, was utterly outclassed by Bayernâs midfield trio. Sergio Busquets, who was usually so calm and composed, struggled to assert any kind of control. Frenkie de Jong looked overwhelmed, and Arturo Vidal, who had once donned Bayernâs jersey, could only watch as his former teammates sliced through the midfield like a hot knife through butter.
It is now 8-2 to Bayern Munich. Against Barcelona. In the Champions League quarterfinal. 8-2.
â Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) August 14, 2020
Lionel Messi and the Barcelona players look utterly shocked. Barca have totally given up. Totally. #UCL pic.twitter.com/76JoSVwXoz
Bayern, on the other hand, were ruthless. Leon Goretzka bossed the midfield, providing key assists and winning duels, while Joshua Kimmich ran rings around Barcaâs flustered players. They had no answer to Bayernâs intensity, and it showed.
One of the most glaring issues for Barcelona that night wasnât just tacticalâit was psychological. The moment they went behind, their heads dropped. There was no belief, no fight, no resilience. While Luis SuĂĄrez gave Barca a sliver of hope with his goal in the 57th minute to make it 4-2, that hope was short-lived.
(3)
â đ¤đŚ (@Blvckfederico) March 19, 2024
Phillip Coutinho - 2018
Liverpool - Barcelona
Fee - âŹ135M
The Brazilian scored a total of 36 Goals during his stint, 25 for Barcelona and 11 for FC Bayern Munich as a loan player
He scored twice Vs Barcelona during their 8-2 Humiliation against Bayern Munich in 2020 pic.twitter.com/LSlbK5vchC
Only for Philippe Coutinho score in Bayern Munich's 8-2 vs Barcelona. Then go on to win the UCL. pic.twitter.com/3X0sZGFs7C
â FT90Extra (@FT90Extra) February 1, 2023
By the time Kimmich restored Bayernâs three-goal cushion with a clinical finish set up by Alphonso Davies, Barcelona was well and truly done. The remaining 30 minutes were nothing short of a nightmare. To add insult to injury, Philippe Coutinho, on loan to Bayern from Barcelona, rounded off the score with two late goals to make it 8-2. It was a footballing humiliation, and Barcelonaâs mental fragility was fully displayed.