Barcelona's Raphinha dismantles Bayern Munich and prepares for Clasico | Football News

Calcutta: The last time this happened, Andres Iniesta started for Barcelona and Xavi was a substitute. Pep Guardiola and Manchester City didn't have their arms linked, Kobe Bryant was in the NBA, Roger Federer was three Grand Slam titles short of the 20 he won, and Neeraj Chopra wasn't even a U20 world medalist. Do you remember where you were on May 6, 2015? Anyone for whom blue and garnet are more than just colors should do it.

When Barcelona beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in the Champions League semifinals that night with goals from Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr., the dark ages, financial woes and Messi's tearful farewell seemed as possible as Covid-19. No wonder Montjuïc, Barcelona's temporary home that looks like a sawed-off version of the Camp Nou, trembled after Bayern's dismal 4-1 dismantling; Raphinha scores a hat trick.

Since then, Bayern had not lost to Barcelona in six games. Forget the defeat, Barcelona hadn't even scored against them since the 8-2 loss in Lisbon. Of Bayern's six European Championship titles, Barcelona could boast five, but this was no longer a duel between equals.

That's what made Wednesday special. The fact that Raphinha raced past Joshua Kimmich and completed Manuel Neuer surprised, but did not shock, Bayern. They regrouped, Harry Kane scored two goals, but because the other was narrowly offside, only one counted. After 18 minutes the score was 1:1. Who would have thought that Bayern would be dismantled with surgical precision before half-time?

Since it was a competition between Apostles of the High Line, the teams had to maintain a distance of 20 m from each other. A rocky outcrop full of hectic activity with inviting spaces on either side. Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona is ready to do things that have nothing to do with Barcelona. For example, proceed with direct tempo and sacrifice possession of the ball; By the 73rd minute, they had played almost 200 fewer passes than Bayern. But they were also up 4-1.

The Fermin Lopez-Robert Lewandowski team was involved in the first two goals. Lewandoski's raid was driven by Lopez, who found Raphinha. And it was Lopez's chip, after an arm on Kim Min-jae's back helped him hold on to Lamine Yamal's lob, from which Lewandowski scored the second. In the defeat against Aston Villa, Bayern paid for the central defenders to remain isolated. They are guilty of this again.

Shortly before half-time, Raphinha took the game. Marc Casado's pass that hit him would have made Xavi and Iniesta proud, but Raphinha showed what form he is in by forcing Raphaël Guerreiro to back up and fire the shot, although Dayot Upamecano was a microsecond late came. Like his Brazilian teammate Vinicius Jr., Raphinha scored a hat-trick, but he didn't need to until second-half stoppage time. He may not have even been on the pitch at the time, with Saturday's Clasico at Real Madrid in mind.

Raphinha showed composure, class and confidence to defy Bayern central defenders Kim and Upamecano and slot the ball well past Neuer for his third goal. With four goals and one assist in three Champions League games and five goals and seven assists in ten La Liga rounds, the performance was worthy of a player. Equally important, Raphinha won the ball deep in his half to initiate the move.

“I have never had a player like Raphinha because he has incredible dynamism both with and without the ball,” said Flick. “Every single team needs him, but we have him.”

“He always gives 100% in good times and bad. He works just as hard and gives his all for all his teammates. I’m so happy for him tonight,” said Raphinha defender Jules Koundé.

This was billed as a duel between Kane and Lewandowski, who combined to score 29 goals in 24 games. Both scored and Kane showed glimpses of his passing range. There was Yamal, tricks and technique in such a good mix for someone so young, a back pass from Thomas Mueller, a heel from Kim and Pedri doing Pedri things, everything was beautiful. But that was Raphinha's night.

One that kicks off the first Clasico of the season, with Barcelona leading the table on 27 points and Real second on 24 points. Flick is right when he says it's too early to say if they're a contender, but the last time they beat Bayern, Barcelona won the Champions League league. Yes, the offside trap that is so important to their defensive work may not always work, but Barcelona seem ready for Real and more.