October 23, (THEWILL) – Barcelona demonstrated their European football credentials with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Bayern Munich in Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League group stage encounter, led by Raphinha’s brilliant three-goal performance.
The Brazilian international marked his 100th appearance for the Spanish giants by opening the scoring within the first minute, expertly manoeuvring past Manuel Neuer before finding the net. While Harry Kane equalised for Bayern Munich after 18 minutes, Barcelona swiftly regained control through Robert Lewandowski’s strike against his former club.
Raphinha extended Barcelona’s advantage before half-time with an impressive strike through Dayot Upamecano’s legs. He completed his hattrick in the 55th minute, controlling Lamine Yamal’s pass on his chest before dispatching a powerful shot into the bottom corner.
The result positions Barcelona favourably in their UCL group with two victories from three matches, while Bayern Munich remain in the bottom half with just one win. The triumph under manager Hansi Flick carries additional significance, marking Barcelona’s first victory over Bayern Munich following six consecutive defeats.
Barcelona’s attention now turns to Saturday’s crucial La Liga encounter with Real Madrid, entering the match with increased confidence following this commanding European performance. The victory suggests Barcelona could be returning to prominence in continental competition, where they last claimed the trophy in 2015.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
