All tests have failed. Kompany is running out of excuses.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2024, Barcelona achieved an impressive first victory under coach Hansi Flick, defeating Bayern Munich 4-1 in the UEFA Champions League, with Raphinha shining by scoring a hat-trick.
Barcelona managed to secure its first significant victory under coach Hansi Flick on Wednesday, when they defeated Bayern Munich 4-1 at home, with Raphinha scoring a hat-trick.
The Brazilian kicked things off with a goal in the first minute, with Fermin Lopez delivering a fine pass to Raphinha just meters from the halfway line. Raphinha took care of the rest from there, running towards goal and then sliding the ball past Manuel Neuer for the early lead.
Bayern, however, responded well by dominating possession and limiting Barcelona to zero shots in the next 22 minutes, eventually leveling the score with Harry Kane's goal in the 18th minute. That joy was short-lived, however, as individual defensive errors allowed Robert Lewandowski to score in the 36th minute and Raphinha to net two goals by the 45th minute.
The visitors looked determined to recover at the start of the second half, but Raphinha's third goal on a counter-attack essentially dashed their hopes of salvaging a point. Barcelona, meanwhile, skillfully closed out the game, trading the high-intensity feel of the first hour for a contained and controlled finish.
With two wins in three Champions League matches, Barcelona sits ninth in the league stage table, while Bayern is in 23rd place with only one win to start their campaign.
Final Score: Barcelona 4, Bayern 1
The biggest match of the third round did not disappoint — unless you're Bayern, of course. Barcelona celebrates its first significant victory under Flick's management and boasts one of the most in-form players in Europe. The hat-trick hero Raphinha is gearing up for the Clasico on Saturday in Madrid. Meanwhile, Bayern revealed a lot about themselves, showing that despite a strong attack, their defense has serious issues that need to be addressed.
