Six-time Champions League winners Bayern Munich dominated Barcelona at the Nou Camp, strolling to a 3-0 victory.
The German club opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, Thomas Muller’s 25-yard strike deflecting off former Manchester City defender Eric Garcia to wrongfoot the helpless Marc Andre ter Stegen in goal.
It was the German’s seventh goal in the Champions League against Barcelona, the most by any player.
Bayern almost doubled their lead at the start of the second half, former Manchester City winger Leroy Sane denied by ter Stegen from point blank range.
They did find a second minutes later, however, Robert Lewandowski taking his goalscoring streak with Munich to 18 consecutive games by poking home after Jamal Musiala had struck the post.
The Pole added his second and Bayern’s third in the 85th minute, showing great composure to sit Gerard Pique down and smash home after Serge Gnabry had hit the post.
In truth, Julien Nagelsmann’s men should have scored four or five, uncharacteristically wasteful when in good positions.
Nonetheless, they will be content with the result and their performance, never having to get out of second gear and always looking in control as they attempt to regain the crown they last won in 2020.
A particular bright spot for the Bundesliga champions was Musiala, the 18-year-old being one of the best players on the pitch. Always having a picture of what was around him before receiving the ball, the German international was willing to drive forwards at every opportunity.
He was also unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet himself, seeing a first half effort blocked by a last-ditch challenge from Gerard Pique and then hitting the post from the edge of the box in the build up to Lewandowski’s first goal.
Barcelona, meanwhile, had some nice passages in possession but never looked like scoring.
Losing their opening Champions League game for the first time in 24 years, they will do well to get beyond the Round of 16, several clubs being far stronger than the Spanish giants.
Without Lionel Messi for the first time since the 2003/04 campaign, the one positive for them were the three teenagers they introduced from the bench, each lifting the crowd with their energy and attacking intent.
Featured image by Ank Kumar – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0; no changes made.
