The Catalans secured a convincing 4-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, leaving Bayern with no chance.
Barcelona pulled off a small feat by crushing Bayern 4-1 in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals. The Catalans dominated the pitch, and Robert Lewandowski scored a brace against his former club.
Tactical triumph of Xavi
Barcelona executed Xavi's plan perfectly, controlling the ball 62% of the time and creating dangerous chances. The midfield play was particularly impressive, with Pedri and Gavi tearing through the German defense.
We knew we had to play aggressively from the first minute. Bayern is a great team, but today we were better in every aspect.
— Хави, главный тренер Барселоны
Failure of Bayern's defense
Bayern's defense, usually so reliable, made several critical mistakes. The right flank looked particularly vulnerable, where Barcelona's 19-year-old newcomer Yamal consistently outplayed the experienced Pavard.
Thomas Tuchel admitted after the match that his team couldn't handle the high tempo of the Catalans and promised changes for the return leg.
Now Bayern faces an almost impossible task—to come back in Munich, where Barcelona hasn't lost in their last three matches.