Perfect Bayern Munich send Barcelona out of UEFA Champions League
Bayern Munich finished their 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group campaign with a 100 percent winning record, whilst knocking Barcelona out of the competition.
Although already assured of their place in the last 16 as Group E winners, Bayern were in no mood to do Barca - second in the section at the start of play - any favours. The six-time European champions had their Catalan visitors on the back-foot from the get-go, with Jamal Musiala and Thomas Müller unable to make the most of their first real chances of note. Müller landed with his next effort, though, contorting his body to head home Robert Lewandowski’s clipped cross. Marc-Andre ter Stegen denied him a quick-fire second, but was powerless to prevent Leroy Sane’s sensational swerving strike from fully 30 yards.
There was no let-up after the restart as Sane miscued from close range following a defence-splitting exchange with Kingsley Coman. Davies then made ter Stegen work, before setting up Bayern’s third of a one-sided contest. With shades of his 2019/20 quarter-final assist against the same opposition, the Canadian collected an outrageous long ball from Lewandowski and cut it back from the by-line for Jamal Musiala to sweep home. Sane passed up the chance to add a fourth late on, but Bayern will have no complaints at the end of a flawless and dominant group stage.
Match stats
Lewandowski fell short of matching Cristiano Ronaldo's 2017/18 record of scoring in all six group games. He heads into the knockouts on nine goals - two short of Ronaldo's group-stage gold standard, set in 2015/16.
Sane scored his fifth Champions League goal of the season; Musiala the second of his career.
Müller has scored eight times in seven Champions League meetings with Barcelona (W6, L1).
Bayern won all six Champions League group games for the second time. They scored 22, whilst conceding just three.
The six-time European champions winners have won six of their last seven against Barcelona, and nine out of 13 overall (D2, L2).
Barcelona have won only two of their last nine matches against Bundesliga opposition on German soil (D4, L2).
Barcelona: Ter Stegen - Lenglet, Araujo, Pique - Dest (Gonzalez 46'), Busquets (c), F. de Jong (Puig 73'), Alba (Mingueza 31') - Dembele (Coutinho 73'), Memphis, Gavi (Demir 87') Unused subs: Neto, L. de Jong, Umtiti, Pena, Balde, Akhomach Out: Aguero (heart), Alves (unavailable), Braithwaite (knee) Fati (hamstring), Pedri (muscular), Roberto (muscular), Wague (foot) Coach: Xavi
As it happened!
3 - 0
(2 - 0)
Bayern
FINAL
Barca
Champions League Matchday 6 Matchday 6 Allianz Arena
90'
FULL-TIME! BAYERN 3-0 BARCELONA
A repeat showing of the reverse fixture as Bayern complete Group E with a 100 percent record. Barca finish third, and have to settle for a place in the Europa League play-offs.
90'
TIME ADDED ON
Three minutes for Barca to ensure. They've sent Pique up front...
86'
SANE!
Another presentable change for Sane, but he goes for power over placement, and fires over from inside the box.
77'
NO LEWANDOWSKI GOAL
It's the first time Lewandowski hasn't managed to score in this season's group stage. He'll head into the knockouts on nine goals, one behind Ajax's Sebastien Haller.
Phillipe Coutinho spent 2019/20 on loan at Bayern from Barcelona, scoring eight times in 23 Bundesliga games. He also grabbed a brace in Bayern's 8-2 victory over the Catalans in the 2020 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
No way back for Barcelona now. Lewandowski sprays a stunning ball from halfway out to Davies on the left. He does really well to keep it in, before cutting the ball back for Musiala to force home from close range.
Rare opportunity for Roca in Bayern colours - just his 13th senior appearance for the club. He came through the ranks at Barcelona's city rivals, Espanyol, before moving to Germany in summer 2020.
Now it's Davies' turn to attack down the Bayern left, but ter Stegen's out to gather. Barca have to go for this - Bayern will surely score a couple more.
48'
SANE!
Bayern trying to walk the ball in as Coman and Sane carve the Barca defence wide open. Sane has to score, but his close-range attempt is straight at ter Stegen.
Bayern's 100 percent record intact at the halfway stage. Barca are heading out...
Half-time
43'
SANE SWERLER!
What a goal! Leroy Sane, who's been unplayable tonight, rifles in his fifth Champions League goal of the season from fully 30 yards. Ter Stegen made to look ordinary by the swerve on that. What technique!
Müller has now scored eight times times in seven Champions League meetings with Barcelona, losing just one of those games.
38'
MÜLLER AGAIN!
Bayern come again with Coman. He feeds Müller into the channel, but ter Stegen's equal to it. The Bundesliga leaders causing Barca all manner of problems, and very much in the mood.
34'
BAYERN LEAD!
And deservedly so! Lewandowski races away from Pique. He has every right to shoot in his form, but selflessly clips a pass over to Müller instead. The ball is slightly behind him, making for a quite brilliant improvised header that Araujo tries in vain to clear off the line. Superb goal.
Bayern knocking at the door as Musiala meets Coman's raking cross. Araujo gets a slight touch on it first, though, just throwing the Bayern teen, who heads straight at ter Stegen.
31'
BLOW FOR BARCA
Alba's down, clutching a hamstring. He knows his night's up. A tough task has just got a whole lot tougher.
Müller's caught in two minds as he gets in behind the Barca defence. In the end, he looks for Lewandowski, but ter Stegen gets a hand to the cross. Let-off for Barca.
26'
BENFICA STRIKE AGAIN
Benfica have doubled their lead against Kyiv, and have the better head-to-head against Barca. Massive ask for the Catalans here in Munich...
22'
DEEPLY DEPAY
A promising passing move ends with Depay firing over from range. Neuer had it covered, in any case.
21'
ELSEWHERE
Bad news for Barca as Benfica take the lead against Kyiv. That means Xavi's men are heading out, unless they can win in Munich.
18'
CLOSE CALL!
Musiala goes in on goal. It's a 2-on-1, but the final ball isn't as precice as it needs to be and Müller can't do anything with it.
16'
YELLOW PERIL
Davies travels a good 80 yards with the ball at his feet. He reaches the Barca area, before being unceremoniously upended by Araujo. That's two Barca players already cautioned.
Sane shapes to take a free-kick, but Tolisso steps up instead. He finds Coman, whose attempted header is deflected behind. Barca do not look confident defending.
9'
HALF CHANCE!
Dembele gets in behind Pavard. He sends a ball into the danger zone, but Sergino Dest - a full-back by trade - can't make anything of the chance.
7'
SAFE HANDS
Barca move the ball well, but Alba's eventual strike is easy for Neuer.
3'
BARCA ON THE BACKFOOT
Ter Stegen passes straight to Lewandowski, who's hacked down by Busquets on the edge of the box. Sane's ensuing free-kick smacks the Barca man in the face. We'll have a stoppage here...
We're behind-closed-doors in the Bavarian capital, due to covid restrictions in the region. Bayern won 8-2 the last time they met Barca without fans in attandance.
LET IT SNOW!
The white stuff's falling in Munich, with temperatures around 0C. That's another factor that swings the pendulum Bayern's way, ahead of kick-off.
NAGELSMANN: 'BARCELONA UNDER PRESSURE'
Down in seventh domestically and on thin ice in Europe, Barca may well end up needing a win in Munich to progress, which Bayern head coach Julian Nagelsmann believes could play into his team's hands. "They're under pressure in terms of the group positions and will give it everything - that'll be good for the game." he said, before warning of their improved showings under former player Xavi. "They're now defending more actively and higher up the pitch than before. The counter-pressing is also more like it was in his playing days under Pep [Guardiola], bold and with a lot of players."
STAT ATTACK
Bayern are bidding to win all six Champions League group games for the second time. The six-time European champions winners have won five of their last six against Barcelona, and eight out of 12 overall (D2, L2). As for the Catalans, they've won only two of their last eight matches against Bundesliga opposition on German soil (D4, L2).
IN RONALDO'S FOOTSTEPS
If Lewandowski continues his hot streak at the Allianz Arena, the Bayern No.9 will match Cristiano Ronaldo's 2017/18 record of scoring in all six group games. He will also match Ronaldo's 11-goal group record with a brace. And he already has two of those, plus a hat-trick and two single-goal efforts to show for Bayern's 100 per cent section-topping season so far.
2:03
WATCH: DORTMUND 2-3 BAYERN
Striker of the Year Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern moved four points clear of Dortmund with a 3-2 win in Der Klassiker on Saturday. Not only is he the Bundesliga's 16-goal top scorer, the Pole also heads the 2021/22 Champions League charts with nine.
WE 8-2 DO THIS TO YOU, BARCA
Bayern's dominance in this fixture has never been more evident than their 8-2 win in the 2019/20 one-legged quarter-final tie. It's not very often you put eight goals past any opponents, but when those opponents are a Barcelona team led by Lionel Messi, doing that becomes a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. Bayern became the first team ever to score eight goals in a single European knockout stage fixture, contributing to a competition record of 3.91 goals per game over the campaign, when they gave the Catalans a lesson they will never forget. That especially rings true for Nelson Semedo, whom Alphonso Davies well and truly schooled with one of the finest assists in tournament history.
THE REVERSE FIXTURE...
... was an absolute stroll for Bayern. Robert Lewandowski scored twice, after Thomas Müller had broken the deadlock, while Manuel Neuer had very little to do in a one-sided 3-0 win.
PERMUTATIONS
Bayern booked their place in the knockouts with two fixtures to spare. They've won every game in Group E by an aggregate scored of 19-3, and are rightly considered one of the favourites to go all the way. Barca will join the record champions in the knockouts, so long as they don't lose in Munich and Benfica fail to beat bottom side Dynamo Kyiv.
MORE ON THOSE TEAMS
Julian Nagelsmann makes two changes to the team that beat Dortmund 3-2 in Der Klassiker. Niklas Süle replaces Lucas Hernandez in defence, while Jamal Musiala deputises for Leon Goretzka in central midfield. Former Gladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and ex-Dortmund winger Ousmane Dembele are among the starters for Barca.
