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Goals from Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski helped Bayern Munich record a comfortable 3-0 win over Barcelona in their UEFA Champions League encounter on Tuesday.
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The first half was a tight affair, with chances coming at a premium for both sides. A deflected effort from Thomas Muller in the 34th minute broke the deadlock, handing Bayern a slender lead that they took into the half-time interval.
However, the Germans then stepped it up in the second half and Ronald Koeman’s men proved unable to stop their onslaught. In fact, the Spaniards finished the game without registering a shot on target as Bayern grabbed total control of the game. Lewandowski notched a second-half brace, capitalizing on rebounds off the post on both occasions to put the result beyond doubt.
On that note, here are five hits and flops from the Group E encounter at Camp Nou.
#1 Hit: Alphonso Davies
Blessed with a blistering recovery pace, Davies is able to play further forward than most left-backs, often doubling up as a second winger. The Canadian spent most of the game in the opposition half and was a constant threat down the left flank.
In addition to his offensive contribution, Davies’ physicality also allowed him to race back into his defensive position when the occasion called for it. As such, Davies and Leroy Sane were a real handful for Barcelona, who struggled to deal with their dual threat.
#2 Flop: Luuk de Jong
Selected to partner countryman Memphis Depay up front, de Jong had an outing to forget. The Dutchman was effectively marked out of the game by Upamecano and struggled terribly to get involved in his side’s attacking play.
With Bayern dominating possession, opportunities for de Jong to get on the ball were few and far between. And while Memphis dropped increasingly deeper to get on the ball, his compatriot was left isolated up top with little to no service. When the ball did make its way over, the Bayern defenders were on de Jong in a flash, hurrying and harrying him throughout.
#3 Hit: Robert Lewandowski
Lewandowski staked his claim as the most in-form striker in the world with a well-taken brace in the game. The Pole showcased excellent poacher’s instincts, pouncing on rebounds off the woodwork for both his goals.
What makes his display even more impressive is the fact that apart from the goals, Lewandowski did not feature much in the game. Most of Bayern’s attacking play happened around him, with the striker pouncing on loose balls to make the most of whatever opportunities came his way.
#4 Flop: Sergi Roberto
Playing in a somewhat unfamiliar right wing-back role, Roberto had the unenviable assignment of keeping tabs on Davies and Sane. In addition to his defensive duties, the Spaniard was also charged with offering width on the right flank going forward.
Unfortunately for Barcelona, Roberto ended up struggling with both tasks and ended up effectively doing neither. His attempts to foray forward left lots of space for Davies and Sane to exploit, and the pacy duo duly obliged. As such, when Roberto decided to stay back, the Spanish side found their attacking options to be limited.
Ultimately, Koeman decided that personnel changes were in order, leading to Roberto being hooked before the hour mark to complete a disappointing outing.
#5 Hit: Dayot Upamecano
Having not entirely settled into his new surroundings, Upamecano delivered one of his more confident performances in a Bayern jersey in this game. The Frenchman used his pace and physicality to great effect, doing his part to keep the Barcelona attackers at bay.
Bayern’s high-pressing, fast-paced style meant that Upamecano spent a lot of the game patrolling the half-line. As such, he showed excellent awareness when required to retreat and also exhibited great composure when bringing the ball out from the back.
