Match awards for Bayern Munich's 4-1 Champions League defeat to FC Barcelona

Jersey swap: Raphinha

Talk about putting your stamp on a game!

The 27-year-old Brazil international had a slow start to his Champions League career, failing to score in his first ten UCL games. But the FC Barcelona winger got off to a brilliant start, starting in the first minute and not letting up. Most recently, Raphinha defeated FC Bayern Munich with a hat trick.

In this battle for the incredibly high lines, Raphinha operated on the left wing and regularly found space behind, around and through Bayern's Raphaël Guerreiro. While Vincent Kompany's men squandered their many chances going forward, Raphinha only threw a few clear shots on goal and buried them all with ice in his veins. Three shots, three on goal, three goals. Manuel Neuer and his defense will have nightmares about this for weeks.

The Emperor: Dayot Upamecano

The task of drifting high across the pitch to hold on to Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski – and how did that end? — Upamecano and Kim Min-jae had their moments to introduce their opponents to the physical side of the game. But they also had to contend with a lot of space behind them, some of which they couldn't even cover. Upamecano, in particular, cleaned up on the right after Barça's wingers had beaten makeshift right-back Guerreiro time and time again – sometimes getting back in time to intervene and sometimes, as with the third goal, narrowly failing.

The result isn't exactly flattering for Bayern's CB duo, but might be even less flattering for Kompany's tactics. Until the final whistle, Upamecano did his best to defend steadfastly in the penalty area and he also had a lot of work to do high up the pitch. It was a solid performance on a day when the game simply got away from everyone, starting with the coach.

Football god: Thomas Müller

Where was the Bayern midfield? Mostly bypassed. João Palhinha posed some physical challenges high up the field, but on the ball the Portugal international didn't provide the pace that Bayern could have used. Neither did Joshua Kimmich, who had a difficult game from start to finish – he grabbed the air at the first goal, which came in the first minute, and then caught Lamine Yamal in the 83rd minute when the Barça youngster delivered a delicious cross uncorked by Robert Lewandowski probably should have been buried for a fifth.

So on to the attacking midfield.

Thomas Müller at least showed some fire in his belly. Barça gave Bayern an incredible amount of space and that Spatial interpreter Was All about interpretation. His early cross to Harry Kane was ruled offside due to a knee injury, and guess what? It was just such a day for Bayern.

But Müller was one of the few Bayern players today who had the intensity and determination necessary to achieve a result. That deserves a greeting.

Also: How much is Aleksandar Pavlović missing from this midfield?

The Bomber: Serge Gnabry

This wasn't an outstanding day for any of Bayern's attackers. Against Barça's young talent, it was Bayern's more experienced veterans who failed to show their composure – loose ballplay, indecision and an annoying inability to stay onside. Bayern took advantage of the new opportunities that Hansi Flick's ultra-high line offered them over large stretches of the first half and parts of the second half.

This was the chance for Bayern to take advantage of the game, just as Bayern have always done ruthlessly in the past. They let it slide and even the second half substitutes, Leroy Sané, Kingsley Coman and Jamal Musiala, didn't show their best.

At least Gnabry prepared Bayern's only goal. But the German international still had to do a lot better in all his areas of play.

Master of the Match: Harry Kane

One goal was scored, another narrowly disallowed. Harry Kane couldn't pull Bayern back in this game, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

As the game progressed, the England captain spent an incredible amount of time in his own half, even making key defensive calls as Barça danced around Bayern's vulnerable flanks. His scoring prowess and his sublime passes from deep – cutting through several rows of the Barcelona lines and finding Bayern wingers in space only for nothing to come of it – teased the game that could have been.

Kane was ready for this one and he'll be ready for the next one. But the entire team was completely overwhelmed. Now he has to pick up the pieces – and his teammates' spirits – and move on. ◆

What did you think of the awards? Does anyone else deserve a shout out? Join the conversation below Bavarian football works and let us know what you think in the comments!

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