Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 8-2 on Friday night (August 14) in Lisbon to book their place in the Uefa Champions League semifinals – causing ripples all over the football universe.
There were echoes of Brazil’s infamous 1-7 defeat to Germany at the Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup semifinals as Bayern Munich set upon Barcelona with the same spirit of domination and demolition to produce one of the most phenomenal moments in Uefa Champions League history.
Bayern scored four times in each half of a totally one-sided game and could perhaps have scored even more.
Thomas Muller and Manual Neuer were key actors for Germany when their national squad pummeled Brazil six years ago and both played a huge part in setting the tone against Barca. It was Muller who opened the scoring for Bayern before an own goal by Alaba restored parity, while Nueur denied both Messi and Suarez.
Goals from Ivan Perisic, Serge Gnabry and a second by Muller took the Bavarians into the break at 4-1.
Luis Suarez produced a decent goal after the break to lift the Spaniards but Joshua Kimmich finished off a flowing delivery from Alphonso Davies to restore a three-goal cushion.
There would be further goals from Robert Lewandowski – his 14th Champions League goal this season – and a rare eureka moment from former Barca magician now on loan to Bayern, Philippe Coutinho, as he added the seventh and eighth goals from close-range.
Bayern will face either Manchester City or Lyon in the semifinals.
