Sublime Reds annihilate Barcelona and advance to semis

FC Bayern downed FC Barcelona 8-2 (eight) on Friday, going through to the Champions League last four. Thomas Müller put Bayern ahead early in the game, but David Alaba put through his own goal. Ivan Perišić restored the advantage before Serge Gnabry and again Müller handed Bayern a comfortable 4-1 lead before half-time. Luis Suarez pulled one back before the hour mark, but Joshua Kimmich closed out the meeting five minutes later. Robert Lewandowski and two-goal Philippe Coutinho rounded off a scoreline that was beyond belief. Bayern's semi-final opponents will be Olympique Lyon or Manchester City.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal, marshalling a back four of Kimmich, Jérôme Boateng, Alaba and Alphonso Davies. Leon Goretzka and Thiago anchored a midfield featuring Perišić, Müller and Gnabry, with Lewandowski up front. Kingsley Coman, Coutinho, Niklas Süle, Lucas Hernández and Corentin Tolisso took over from Perišić, Gnabry, Boateng, Davies and Goretzka in the second half.

First-half dominance

Once match official Damir Skomina whistled play underway, Bayern hit the ground running and drew first blood through Müller, who smashed home after a one-two with Lewandowski. A setback came when Alaba unluckily put through his own goal when he beat the lurking Suarez to the ball. The Catalans were buoyed by the goal for a spell, Suarez drawing a save from Neuer before Messi hit the post. Goretzka miscued a volley and directed a header over the bar, Neuer saving from Messi at the other end. Perišić restored Bayern's lead when he fired home from a tight angle with the help of a slight deflection.

Piqué headed wide, but dominant Bayern had plenty more salt into Barca's wounds, Goretzka's defence-splitting pass finding Gnabry, who put it past ter Stegen. Barcelona increasingly struggled with Bayern's aggressive pressing game, a Kimmich centre soon finding Müller, who fired home at the near post. Lewandowski saw a header saved before Suarez warmed Neuer's gloves, and Bayern were 4-1 up at half-time.

Coutinho bags brace

Proceedings were similar after the restart, a Kimmich chip evading Gnabry, ter Stegen beating Perišić to the ball. Goretzka fired over before Lewandowski had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman's flag was up for offside. Barcelona pulled one back out of the blue, Suarez sidestepping Boateng before beating Neuer, but Davies sidestepped three opponents and invited Kimmich to put the game to bed. Messi fired wide before sub Coman drew a fine save from ter Stegen.

The match ebbed now, but Bayern hit the gas again in the closing stages. Lewandowski made it a half-dozen, making the most of a Coutinho chip. The loanee from Barcelona soon netted himself when he fired into the low corner from short distance and shone again when he made it eight for Bayern, and Skomina put Barcelona out of their misery.

After Friday's match, Bayern have a berth in the last four – and, if they build on their performance – the promise of more.

Match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen