It’s impossible to forget Germany’s epic six-goal beatdown of Brazil at the 2014 World Cup. But for those who missed it, the first half of the Barcelona-Bayern Munich Champions League quarterfinal on Friday was a pretty good reenactment.
Bayern Munich relentlessly breached Barcelona’s vulnerable defense en route to a 4-1 halftime lead in Lisbon, stunning a Blaugrana side not used to facing such an onslaught.
When Germany beat Brazil 7-1 in the World Cup semifinals six years ago, it led 5-0 at halftime, not far off from Bayern’s lead on Friday. Unfortunately, not everyone has the money to pay for CBS All Access to watch it, so let's recap it for you.
Barcelona vs Bayern Munich Highlights: First Half
Bayern, used to dominating games in the Bundesliga — and as they showed against Chelsea, often in the Champions League — looked comfortable from the start, taking the lead four minutes in. Thomas Müller played an unorthodox one-two with Robert Lewandowski, finishing in even more unorthodox fashion (but somehow the most Müller of finishes) to open the scoring.
¡Gooooooooool del Bayern!
Thomas Müller le pega muy bien a la pelota y pone en ventaja rápido a los alemanes. @FCBarcelona_es 0-1 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/IbThADNbOI— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
Unfortunately, I actually missed the goal live because CBS All Access decided to cut out randomly, forcing me to restart the stream. I got the stream back running just in time for the second, which came three minutes later on an unfortunate own goal by David Alaba.
¡Gooooooooooool del Barcelona!
Alaba revive el autogol de Piqué en 2013 contra el Bayern y le regala el empate a los culés. @FCBarcelona_es 1-1 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/TjVqqWsd4j— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
After scoring, Barcelona revved into gear, looking like it’d score three more in moments after the goal. Manuel Neuer came up with a huge save to deny Luis Suarez one-on-one and Lionel Messi had a cross carom off the post seconds later.
¡El Barcelona avisa dos veces!
Suárez estuvo cerca y luego Messi le pegó al palo. @FCBarcelona_es 1-1 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/el5X48edRh— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
But Bayern quickly regained control of the momentum and the scoreboard.
Serge Gnabry stole the ball in midfield and laid the ball off to an overlapping Ivan Perišić. The Croatian winger powered a cross-shot across the face of the goal, getting enough of a deflection off Clément Lenglet to see the ball fly into the back of the net.
¡Gooooooooooooool del Bayern!
Perisic aprovecha un osote en la salida del Barcelona y vuelve a poner en ventaja a los alemanes. @FCBarcelona_es 1-2 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/WWMB020bFe— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
It was all Bayern at this point, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s big paw denying another attack.
¡Cuidado Ter Stegen!
El portero del Barcelona luce nervioso y casi le da otro gol al Bayern. @FCBarcelona_es 1-2 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/7UIwHlOA3y— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
But Ter Stegen couldn’t do anything to deny Gnabry in the 27th minute. Leon Goretzka played a lovely through ball over the Barça defense to set up Gnabry for his 21st goal of the season.
¡Goooooooooooooool del Bayern!
Gnabry hace el tercero de los alemanes y parece que este partido comienza a decantarse. @FCBarcelona_es 1-3 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/29FOUdgRdy— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
Just four minutes later, it was 4-1.
Joshua Kimmich, playing at right back on Friday instead of midfield, had his cross turned in by Müller and the rout was on.
¡Goooooool del Bayern!
Ya son cuatro de los alemanes, dos de Müller. ¡Esto ya es goleada! @FCBarcelona_es 1-4 @FCBayernES #UCL | #Barcelona | #BayernMunichEn vivo
TUDN | @unimas
Síguelo aquí https://t.co/t3geJVP12U pic.twitter.com/L5z7apQPhD— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) August 14, 2020
At this rate (we published this at halftime), there’s no telling where the match will end. Bayern could score four more or Messi could take over and inspire an incredible comeback. OK, Bayern probably won’t blow this lead, but never count out a team with Messi.
Barcelona has never conceded 4 goals in the 1st half of a @ChampionsLeague match.
...until today. pic.twitter.com/Pm933lzFMg— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) August 14, 2020