Barcelona: Bayern Munich gave Barcelona a brutal demonstration how far their opponents have fallen with a 3-0 victory in the Champions League on Tuesday, with Robert Lewandowski scoring two goals at Camp Nou.
Without Lionel Messi for the first European campaign since 2003, Barca played by Bayern, who might have scored more but in the end settling three people thanks to the opening deflected Thomas Mueller and Double Lewandowski.
When Lewandowski made him two before hours, the possibility of other insults in the mold defeat 8-2 last year by the same opponent in Lisbon felt very real.
Instead, Bayern delivered a message that was even harder about the Gulf in the class by subsidizing the last stage, because Barca fans expressed their anger, disappointed and finally sense of resignation.
“What is what,” Gerard Pique said.
“We are what we are, that’s the reality.” Barcelona failed to collect one shot on the target, making it less trajectory – once almost never heard at Camp Nou – and now conceded 10 goals in their last three European houses.
Sergi Roberto was at the end of the hardest whistle from home supporters and it was impossible not to wonder whether the criticism was part of a disappointment due to lack of progress on the right side, where Messi had created so much.
“Those (whistles) really hurt me because I knew him, he was a spectacular person,” Pique said.
“And people need to remember him not a winger.” Ronald Koeman’s position was under supervision in recent weeks and his 5-3-2 formation, who opposed the tradition of attacking Barcelona, would not strengthen his hand.
But the point here is the lack of quality in Barcelona line-up – coming after summer sales turbulent – which is lower than Bayern in each department.
Mueller has seven goals in six current performances against Catalan while Lewandowski has scored in 18 consecutive matches.
Starting strong Julian Nagelsmann as coach continues with a sixth consecutive victory – but Bayern will face a more difficult Champions League opposition than this, maybe even in group E, where Benfica and Dynamo Kiev began with a draw.
In true underdog mode, Barca flew to Bayern early, wanting to impress theirselves physically on opponents they might know will be superior.
The crowd was on it too, cheering when Luuk De Jong knuk Alphonso Davies and Sergi Roberto held Dayot Upamecano.
Then there was a little chance when Memphis Slid de Jong’s depay but he did not have the speed to use and Benjamin Pavard was cleaned.
Initial enthusiasm can only maintain Barcelona for so long and when the match settled, Bayern gradually took control.
Leroy Sane Volleyed at Marc-Andre Ter Stegen.
Gerard Pique must make the last challenge to stop Mueller.
But the Bayern authority was set, even if their opening goal owed a lot to Fortune, Mueller released from 30 yards and the ball shifted from behind Eric Garcia, Terfootfooting Ter Stegen and crawled in the post.
Barca withered before the first half, the atmosphere turned acid when the pass got lost and strike attacks.
The new push after half a time saw Sergio Busquets drive wide but Bayern came again.
Sane crashed into the right leg of Ter Stegen from eight meters and then Lewandowski made him two, stepping on the ball to an open goal after Barca’s guard was committed to Jamal Musial’s shot which was a Postal Cannon.
Under the threat of another back and forth, Koeman released Sergi Roberto and Busquets, with a whistle choir from home fans.
Demir Yusuf who was 18 years old and a 17-year-old Gavi came.
But Bayern saved Barca as an insult, slowing down for one more late when Lewandowski danced through the body fight and was fired with five more minutes.
For Barca, three felt like a relief.
Lewandowski in doubles as Bayern beat Barcelona again
