5 times European giants were humiliated in European club football

#2 Bayern Munich (3 – 0) Barcelona, Camp Nou (Barcelona), Semi-Finals, 2012-13

(Bayern won first leg 4-0)

Bayern won the Champions League that season

This 2-leg affair didn’t just shake the footballing world that season, it seemingly signalled the beginning of the resurgence of the Germans in Europe’s premier club competition. Coming in to the Nou Camp, football’s most resilient fortress over the past few years, Bayern had already done half their job.

They had stunned the Catalans 4-0 in Munich, but like they saying goes, ‘ it ain’t over till the fat lady sings’. Bayern had lost to Barcelona at the Nou Camp 4-0 in the 2009 campaign, and Bayern were very aware of that fact.

However, with Messi on the bench, and Bayern playing solid tactical football, Barca could not find an opening in the first 45 minutes in the return leg at home, despite playing their brand of football in short spurts. The next 45 minutes broke a lot of records, a lot of hearts and a lot of betting odds. Robben opened the scoring for the Bavarians inside the first 5 minutes of the second half.

A Gerard Pique own goal and a Thomas Muller header didn’t just seal the deal, it buried the Catalan club. The final 7-0 scoreline on aggregate was one of the most lopsided games in Champions League history, and was also Barca’s worst defeat over 2 legs in European competitions. It was also the first time in Champions League history and the first time since 1987 that Barca had lost both ties in a 2-legged fixture in the European Cup.

Bayern would go on to win the Final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley, but the highlight of their campaign will always be the complete demolition of the Barcelona side at both home and away.