Yesterday’s Bayern Munich-Barcelona match-up outpaced the hype, at least until Bayern opened up the score.
A skillful, back-and-forth affair was blown wide open in the 50th minute when Lucas Hernandez put the home side ahead off a corner header.
Then Bayern Bayerened, building off their own momentum and snowballing into a Leroy Sane goal only four minutes later.
Barca never quite got back into it after that, save a few saved shots. Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer had one hell of a game, keeping Bayern Munich in it during FCB’s first-half onslaught.
The 2-0 score doesn’t reflect how close and entertaining most of this game was.
Both teams had missed chances in the first forty-five, but Barcelona will be losing sleep over their miscues. Head coach Xavi spoke for Barcelona fans everywhere during his post-game presser.
Here’s a sampling of those missed connections.
Pedri nearly had Barca ahead in the first ten minutes.
Theme of the match – Neuer is a brick wall.
Lewy adds just a little too much ten minutes later.
Another theme of the match – the usually unstoppable Robert Lewandowski seemingly stops himself.
Lewandowski denied before the half.
Another one of many so-close moments for the Polish striker, returning to his old club for the first time.
A possible Dembele penalty.
Though Dembele struggled, Alphonso Davies established himself as a superstar, easily the best player in CONCACAF. Barcelona fans will argue this was a penalty, but Bayern won 2-0.
This momentum-deflating Pedri miss.
This effort was one of several open chances FCB missed after Bayern took the lead. Barca was desperately fighting to get a goal and swing the momentum back their way, but miss after miss took the wind out of their sails while the home side took a breather. This Pedri opportunity is just another “What If…” for Barcelona against Bayern.
The Bavarians charge to the top of Group C with the emphatic home win. Barcelona remains in second.
Featured Image: Pexels/Craig Adderley/FCBayernMunich/UEFAChamionsLeague/DM
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