Bayern have the historical advantage over Barcelona, winning 11 out of 15 competitive meetings. The other four games have resulted in two draws and two defeats. fcbayern.com looks back on those previous encounters, with the last in the 2022/23 Champions League group stage, ahead of the next continental meeting on Wednesday.
1995/96: Bayern defy favourites to lift UEFA Cup
Marcel Witeczek got two goals across the two semi-finals against Barcelona, here putting Bayern 2-0 up at the Camp Nou.
The first competitive meeting was in the semi-finals of the 1995/96 UEFA Cup. Despite the Catalans being favourites, Bayern claimed a 2-2 draw against Johan Cruyff’s team in the first leg at the Olympiastadion. Marcel Witeczek and Mehmet Scholl netted for FCB, who were up against it in the reverse fixture in front of 115,000 spectators at the Camp Nou. The Bavarians were phenomenal on the night and took a 2-0 lead through Markus Babbel and Witeczek. Ivan de la Peña got one back for Barça shortly before the end, but Bayern were through to the final, where they claimed their first European title in 20 years with victory over Bordeaux.
1998/99: Two group stage wins
Bayern and Babbel came out on top against Phillip Cocu’s Barça in the group stage in 1998.
Two and a half years later, the sides met in the first Champions League group stage, with Bayern claiming victory in both games. Stefan Effenberg was the hero in the narrow 1-0 win in Munich, before Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side went to Barcelona and recorded a 2-1 triumph. Alexander Zickler and Hasan Salihamidžić were the scorers at the Camp Nou, where Bayern would return later in the tournament for the final against Manchester United.
2008/09: No chance for Bayern in Catalonia
Bastian Schweinsteiger & Co. came off second-best against Thierry Henry’s Barça in the 2008/09 quarter-finals.
The Bavarians had an unhappy visit to Barcelona in the quarter-final first leg in 2009. A star-studded team featuring Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Thierry Henry blew away an injury-ravaged Bayern to comfortably win 4-0. The return leg at the Allianz Arena was a better showing, although the 1-1 draw wasn’t enough to overturn the first-leg deficit as Barça progressed on their way to winning the Champions League.
2012/13: A show of strength en route to the treble
Thomas Müller struck twice in a comprehensive 4-0 win in the first leg. He also scored again at the Camp Nou.
Bayern got revenge in some style four years later in the 2013 semi-finals. Jupp Heynckes’ side ensured they had one foot in the final after just 90 minutes when Thomas Müller (2), Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben all netted in a 4-0 thrashing at the Allianz Arena. A week later in Barcelona, FCB kept their foot on the gas and recorded an equally impressive 3-0 win thanks to further strikes from Robben and Müller, as well as an own goal by Gerard Pique. It was the final step on the road to Wembley and the subsequent victory over Dortmund and the treble.
2014/15: Dream of Berlin final shattered
Bayern faced a tough task after a 3-0 loss in Barcelona, but they at least won the second leg thanks to Müller.
Two years after the treble, the Bavarians and Catalans met once again in the semi-finals. This time, the first leg was in Spain, where it remained goalless for almost 80 minutes, before the hosts chalked up a clear win with three late goals. An early strike from Medhi Benatia in the second leg provided hope of a comeback, but a first-half brace from Neymar nipped that in the bud. Robert Lewandowski and Müller made sure FCB won 3-2 on the night, but it was Barça who again went through to the final in Berlin, where they beat Juventus for the title.
2019/20: Historic 8-2 in Lisbon en route to the title
Bayern thrashed Barcelona 8-2 in August 2020 thanks to an outstanding performance in the quarter-finals in Lisbon.
What an unforgettable night! FC Bayern fans will forever remember 14 August 2020. At the Champions League final tournament in Lisbon, the men from Munich faced Barcelona in the quarter-finals. The Bavarians really turned up the heat and put on a magnificent performance. The record champions were already 4-1 up at the break and didn't let up in the second half. The 8-2 win was Bayern's highest of all of their previous encounters with Barça. Nine days later, the Bavarians hoisted the trophy into the night sky in Lisbon after beating Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in the final.
2021/22: Two 3-0 wins in perfect group stage
Robert Lewandowski scored a brace in the first meeting of 2021/22 in the Camp Nou.
Bayern’s last Champions League campaign started in Catalonia last September. It was difficult to know what to expect from Barcelona following Messi’s summer move to Paris Saint-Germain. The Bavarians flew out of the blocks and played the hosts off the Camp Nou pitch. A goal from Müller and two from Lewandowski earned Bayern a thoroughly deserved 3-0 victory and sent out a warning sign to the rest of the competition. In the return fixture, Bayern again gave the Spaniards no chance and won 3-0 in impressive style. The goals came from Müller, Leroy Sané and Jamal Musiala as Julian Nagelsmann's men completed a perfect group stage of six wins in six matches.
2022/23: Bayern claim group double
Benjamin Pavard rounded off Bayern's 3-0 win at Barcelona in October 2022. | Imago
The Bavarians were reunited with the Catalans again the following year, with the outcome the same as two more Bayern wins ensured another perfect group stage. Quickfire second-half goals from Lucas Hernández and Sané produced a 2-0 victory in Munich in mid-September, but the scenario was very different ahead of the return fixture in Barcelona. The Spaniards were already out of the running for the knockout stage going into Matchday 5, while Bayern had the chance to wrap up progress to the round of 16 with a win. Nagelsmann’s team made light work of their hosts at the Camp Nou as Sadio Mané, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Benjamin Pavard wrapped up a comprehensive 3-0 victory. “The team made a statement here,” the coach happily declared afterwards.
Read up on the facts ahead of the 2024 meeting in Barcelona:
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