Barcelona 4 Bayern Munich 1: Raphinha hat-trick gives Hansi Flick a triumphant night against his former club

It was Robert Lewandowski against Harry Kane. It was Hansi Flick taking on his former side. It was Barcelona against Bayern Munich, two of the continent’s most decorated clubs going head-to-head in a gripping, frantic clash in the Champions League.

Barcelona were ahead inside the opening minute, Raphinha taking advantage of Bayern’s muddled defensive line to round Manuel Neuer and score. Then it was the turn of the big-name strikers to make their mark. Harry Kane headed past Inaki Pena but was judged, semi-automatically, to be offside. Undeterred, Kane then scored an excellent and legitimate equaliser, only to see Lewandowski put the home side back in front after 36 minutes, followed by a wonderful third from Raphinha just before half-time.

But could the two sides keep up the entertainment after the break? Yes, they could. Bayern began the half positively but when Raphinha controlled a diagonal pass from Lamine Yamal with his chest after 56 minutes, a marvellous — and game-ending — hat-trick was inevitable.

Dermot Corrigan, Michael Cox and Mark Carey analyse a sensational game.

A joyous night for Hansi Flick and Barcelona

Things had been really well for Barca during the first two months under Hansi Flick — the team were playing well, winning games and scoring lots of goals in La Liga. La Masia youngsters were being integrated, previously jaded established stars were reinvigorated, smiles were back on Blaugrana faces.

Yet, many within Barcelona’s ‘entorno’ family of former players, coaches and pundits kept saying things like ‘it’s early days yet, let’s see how they get on when a proper test comes’.

And there are no bigger tests for Barcelona coaches than Bayern in the Champions League. Barca have only beaten Bayern twice in 15 attempts. The 8-2 quarter final defeat in the Covid-affected 2020 tournament was the most traumatic moment in the club’s history. They’d met four times since then, with Bayern winning all four, and Barca not even scoring once.

So tonight’s result and performance was a tremendous achievement by Flick. The team was full of energy, belief and determination. The tactics from the bench were risky but they worked really well. Barca did not just beat Bayern, they steamrollered them, in a reverse of many of their recent experiences.

Flick’s predecessors Xavi, Ronald Koeman and Quique Setien all suffered painful setbacks when they first met Bayern in Europe. The only Barca coaches to ever beat Bayern in this competition are Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique, both in their first season.

Both of those debut campaigns ended with a Barcelona Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey treble. It is still early yet to predict that Flick could achieve such a feat with the current squad. But the belief at Montjuic on Wednesday night was that Barca really could be back now.

Dermot Corrigan

Raphinha’s sensational form is as valuable as it is surprising

Even Raphinha’s biggest admirers during his successful two-season spell at Leeds United surely didn’t anticipate this. After a so-so couple of years since moving to Barcelona in 2022, the Brazilian suddenly seems like Barcelona’s defining player, and is wearing the captain’s armband too.

2 – Raphinha is the first player to score two goals in the first half of a UEFA Champions League game against Bayern Munich since Neymar in May 2015, also for Barcelona. Rowdy. pic.twitter.com/DQEH9qrIYN

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 23, 2024

Raphinha scored two well-taken goals here which bookended the first half, storming in behind and rounding Manuel Neuer in the opening minute, then cutting inside and firing home on the stroke of half-time. The curious thing is that it’s the former that has been more typical of his play this season. While reverting to being a winger tonight, he’s thrived in a No 10 role, running off Robert Lewandowski and past the opposition defence.

His glorious hat-trick goal was almost a combination of the two, starting from wide and roaring in behind to finish confidently into the far corner. Three shots, and three goals.

Lewandowski is still the primary goal threat and Lamine Yamal is the showstopper, showcasing an array of stepovers and nutmegs here. But while Lewandowski’s ability to find the net was never in doubt, and Yamal’s talent is obvious, Raphinha’s sensational form is altogether more surprising — and a huge boost for a Barcelona side who previously seemed short of inspiration.

Michael Cox

Are Bayern in trouble?

Bayern Munich have suffered back-to-back defeats in the Champions League, losing twice in the opening stage of the competition for the first time since 2016-17.

Ordinarily, two consecutive defeats in the group stage could be fatal for a side looking to advance into the knockout stage. Fortunately for Vincent Kompany, the new eight-game format means there is still plenty of time for Bayern Munich to claw back some momentum in Europe.

Despite an undefeated start in the Bundesliga and a glut of goals scored on home soil, the jury is still out on just how well Bayern have bounced back from their disappointing campaign under Thomas Tuchel last year. No one can doubt their attacking potency but their vulnerability on the counter-attack — with centre-backs who have not convinced many of their recovery pace — continues to be a question mark.

It was direct play from Aston Villa that undid Bayern for Jhon Duran’s goal at Villa Park, and three of Barcelona’s four goals saw them punish the disorganisation of Bayern’s back line that saw their defenders scampering desperately towards their own goal to get back into position.

Progression to the knockout phase should still be a formality, but Kompany could have done without the additional pressure so early on in the season.

Mark Carey

An ode to a wonderful first half

Raphinha’s opening goal after just 57 seconds was a sensational start to the game, and the pace barely let up at all through a breakneck first 45 minutes.

The set-up from both teams, with frenetic high-pressing, risky passing out from the back, and even dicier defensive high lines (especially Barca’s) contributed to regular moments of edge-of-the-seat action.

For a while, it seemed like Bayern had control of the situation — as they dominated possession for a spell when behind. Harry Kane’s header was ruled out for a marginal (but correct) offside, but there was nothing stopping the Englishman’s spectacular finish from Serge Gnabry’s cross on 18 minutes.

Such a high pace forced players to showcase their technical ability just to keep the ball in tight situations. Barca midfielder Pedri and his teenage teammate Lamine Yamal each produced beautiful bits of skill near halfway to get out of tricky situations as Bayern pressers converged on them.

Fermin Lopez’s ‘intelligent’ nudge on Bayern defender Kim Min-jae, before he set up Robert Lewandowski to score against his old side on 36 minutes, only raised the pulse rates on both sides even higher.

Down the years, various Barca teams have often faded, or even evaporated, when faced with super intense and physical Bayern sides. But Hansi Flick seems to be building something different and special in this team. Raphinha is certainly thriving under the new regime, and he took advantage of the confidence and adrenaline coursing through his body to hammer home a superb strike for 3-1 just before the break.

It was tremendously joyful entertainment — for everyone not rooting for Bayern — even if it seemed unlikely that either team would be able to maintain the pace for the full 90 minutes.

Dermot Corrigan

How Bayern zig-zagged their way through Barcelona’s press

A high defensive line with aggressive pressing has been a theme of Barcelona under Hansi Flick.

It is a tactical approach that has its upsides, designed to squeeze the space and allow the attacking players to win the ball in advanced areas and maximise their impact closer to goal.

Crucially, the two need to go hand-in-hand. A high defensive line without aggressive pressing can be a risky approach with opposition runners in behind. Against a team with the quality of Bayern Munich, you are asking for trouble.

The concentration of Barcelona’s narrow back line had to be perfect whenever Bayern were in possession. The triggers to step forward and keep a high defensive line were beyond brave at times, often squeezing up towards the halfway line as Vincent Kompany’s men looked to progress through the thirds.

For Bayern, playing the ball directly over the top would have played into Barcelona’s hands. With Inaki Pena taking an aggressive starting position, a straight ball would have easily run through to Barcelona’s goalkeeper.

To combat this, Bayern zig-zagged their way forward with switched passes to move Barcelona’s back line around. By half-time alone, Bayern’s 12 attempted switches were more than any other game in all competitions this season and it was often wingers Michael Olise and Serge Gnabry who exchanged passes to either flank as they progressed forward.

This was perfectly encapsulated by Bayern’s equaliser. Olise switched to Gnabry in space, whose cross found the onrushing Harry Kane.

Kane’s goal for UK readers:

Harry Kane gets his 14th goal of the season to equalise for Bayern Munich 🔥

📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/nyPLeRSpsv

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 23, 2024

Kane’s goal for US readers:

Harry Kane’s 14th goal of the season couldn’t have come at a better time for Bayern Munich! 👏 pic.twitter.com/RkdfCTnDLA

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 23, 2024

In truth, Bayern could and should have punished Barcelona more with this tactic. It was a clear approach from the opening minutes.

Mark Carey