Bayern Munich have confirmed their place in the final four of this season’s UEFA Champions League after emerging 8-2 winners over Barcelona in what should go down as a footballing classic on Friday night.
The efficient Germans delivered a harsh lesson in attacking football to the tempered Spaniards by scoring four stunning goals in each half – they even scored Barca’s first goal for them – to underline their title-winning credentials.
In one of the best halves of football this season, Muller’s early opener was cancelled out by an Alaba own goal, both within the first seven minutes, before Hansi Flick’s side put on the afterburners.
First, Perisic restored the German champions lead when he fired a powerful finish straight through Ter Stegen from the left side of the area.
Gnabry then got in on the act, the former Arsenal youngster got in behind Lenglet, held off the centre-back, and thrashed a fantastic finish past Ter Stegen.
And it became clear that Barca’s defence just couldn’t handle one of the best attacks in Europe when Muller got across Pique to prod home Bayern’s fourth of the night just past the half-hour mark.
There were to be more brilliant attacking plays from both sides, but no goals as the first half petered out.
But barely ten minutes after the interval, Barca made it 4-2 when Suarez cheekily chopped Boateng before firing into Neuer’s bottom corner.
However, Kimmich restored Bayern’s three-goal advantage after incredible work down the left wing by Davies.
It’s not often you see Bayern score five goals without Robert Lewandowski’s name on the scoresheet, and the Polish striker made amends with the sixth goal of the night.
There was still time for two more as second-half substitute Coutinho netted a late brace to complete Barca’s humiliation and send Bayern to the seventh heavens and the semifinals of the 2020 UEFA Champions League.
