Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona: What Were The Main Talking Points As Bayern Claim Consecutive Champions League Victories?

In a heavyweight showdown on Tuesday night, Bayern Munich clinched back-to-back Champions League victories thanks to a 2-0 win against Barcelona.

While the German giants might have put in a sluggish first-half display on home soil, the Bavarians certainly laid down a real marker here as a quickfire brace from Lucas Hernandez and Leroy Sane clinched all three points.

Now holding a three-point buffer at the top of Group C, Bayern also extended on their remarkable European record against a high-flying Barcelona side.

Handing the former Spanish champions their first defeat since opening the 2022/23 campaign, we have taken a look at the key talking points following Tuesday’s superstar battle at the Allianz Arena.

A much-needed boost for Nagelsmann

While Bayern might have opened their Champions League adventure with a 2-0 win away at Inter Milan last week, Julian Nagelsmann does appear to find some pressure on his shoulders.

Although the former RB Leipzig boss might have guided the Bavarians to a 10th straight Bundesliga crown last season, it is fair to say that Tuesday’s hosts have largely failed to keep up that same momentum this time around.

Last seen heading into their midweek showdown at the Allianz Arena by settling for a 2-2 draw against Stuttgart, Bayern have now played out a stalemate in each of their last three domestic outings.

However, while reports over the past few weeks might have suggested that some of Bayern’s senior squad are growing frustrated with life under Nagelsmann, the German icons will take plenty of positives away from their second-half display here.

With one-time Manchester City star Leroy Sane now bagging back-to-back Champions League strikes and forming an eye-catching partnership with summer arrival Sadio Mane, Nagelsmann will be calling on his side to use their European success as a platform to build off.

Barca purple patch comes to an abrupt end

Although Barcelona might have been dealing with some public financial issues over the past 18 months, Xavi’s side have gained a host of plaudits since getting the new campaign underway.

Making the trip out to Munich coming off the back of a thumping 4-0 win away at Cadiz, Tuesday’s guests certainly fancied the chance of spring a real upset on foreign soil here.

However, with summer arrival and ex-Bayern Munich talisman Robert Lewandowski enduring a quiet return to Germany after missing a trio of first-half chances, Xavi will be desperate to prove that this was just a minor blip.

Opening their own Group C adventure last week as they picked up a 5-1 win against Viktoria Plzeň in Catalonia, their defeat here was the first loss that Barca have suffered since back in May.

Dominating large spells of the first-half proceedings and asking Bayern’s somewhat leaky defence a string of questions, the Spanish giants know that they face a huge showdown after the upcoming international break.

Desperate to right last season’s wrong and find a route to the knockout stage, Barca will be next seen on October 4th when they make the trip to Inter Milan.

Bayern extend on their rampant record against the Blaugrana

While Barcelona might have made the trip to Munich on Tuesday night desperate to extend on their recent purple patch, they would have also been keen on ending their woeful record against the German record-breakers.

However, failing to match their first-half flurry and disappointed by their 2-0 loss here, Bayern hold what is nothing short of a remarkable period of dominance over their fellow European heavyweights.

With that infamous 8-2 romp at the Nou Camp back in August 2020 still widely regarded to be one of the most stunning nights in Champions League history, the Bavarians have now won each of their previous five meetings against Barca by an aggregate score of 19-4.

Likewise, along with landing back-to-back 3-0 victories when the two sides faced off in the group stage of last season’s tournament, Tuesday’s win here also means that Nagelsmann’s side have lost just a pair of their 12 European battles.

Match Report:

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies, Kimmich, Sabitzer, Sane, Muller, Musiala, Mane

Subs: Gnabry, Tel, Mazraoui, Goretzka, Gravenberch

Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Kounde, Araujo, Christensen, Alonso, Pedri, Busquets, Gavi, Raphinha, Dembele, Lewandowski

Subs: De Jong, Garcia, Torres, Kessie, Fati

Goals: Hernandez (50′), Sane (54′)

Yellow Cards: Bayern Munich: Sabitzer, Kimmich – Barcelona: Busquets

Red Cards: N/A

Referee: Danny Makkelie