The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | Bayern Munich hammered Barcelona 8-2 here on Friday to roar into the UEFA Champions League semifinals and made the history of scoring most in a knockout stage of the European clubs’ top tournament.
Barcelona, humiliated, conceded eight goals for the first time since the 1946 defeat from FC Sevilla (8-0). It is also the first time since 2008 the Spain giants finished a season without a significant title.
Coach Quique Setien brought a different Barcelona to the field on Friday. Antoine Griezmann was on the bench and gave way to Alex Vidal to start the game. On the German side, Hans-Dieter Flick came in with the best, even with Kimmich acting in his original position, the right wing.
The game started quite disputed and the first goal chance was from the Catalan team, just after two minutes, when Sergi Roberto made a play on the right and sought Luis Suarez in the area, but Bayern’s defense kept it away.
In the fourth minute, the first goal of the match came out for Bayern. Striker Robert Lewandowski dominated a high ball in the area, made the pivot and delivered to Thomas Muller to score.
Barcelona’s response came from the sequence, more precisely after six minutes of play: Left-back Jordi Alba played from the edge, crossed for Suarez on the penalty spot, but before him, defender Alaba tried to cut, covered the goalkeeper and made an own goal.
The turn seemed to be on the way. Barcelona produced two more goal plays, with Neuer defending a ball from Suarez and Lionel Messi kicking a ball on the post, leaving the game competitive until 20 minutes.
However, in the 21st minute after a stolen ball from Gnabri on the left, Croatian Peresic received inside the area and scored the second German goal.
Six minutes later came Bayern’s third goal, also with Gnabri, who this time received a great pass from Goretzka and beat the goalkeeper.
On 31 minutes, after a cross by Kimmich’s right, Muller received the ball in the small area and marked his second in the game and the fourth of Bayern.
After the interval, the Barca coach promised changes, drawing out Sergi Roberto and finally fielding in Griezmann.
However, the game continued to favor Bayern, who scored again after 52 minutes, but the goal was canceled.
The Spanish hope came in the 57th minute, when Suarez received the ball from Alba and sent it deep into the net.
The hope was short-lived, as six minutes later, Davies made a move from the left, passed through Semedo, who entered the area and played back, Kimmich extended the lead to 5-2 for Bayern.
After a cross from Felipe Coutinho, Lewandowski went up to head and score his first in the game on 82 minutes.
When everything seemed decided, the same Coutinho, a former Barcelona player, scored two more, both receiving the ball in the area, with time to dominate and kick.
Bayern Munich will take on the winner between Manchester City and Lyon in the semifinals next week in Lisbon.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all the quarterfinals, semifinals and the final of the Champions League are not being played home and away as usual but as single games in neutral Lisbon.
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XINHUA
