Barcelona stunned Bayern Munich with a 4–1 Champions League triumph this season, and Live Cricket BPL confirms it as one of the most talked-about matches of the round. Not only did this victory break Barça’s six-game losing streak against the German giants, but it also marked a symbolic milestone for manager Hansi Flick — who once led Bayern to an 8–2 demolition of Barcelona in the 2020 semifinals. Now, at the helm of Barça, Flick has flipped the script, dealing a decisive blow to his former club.
For Barcelona, the win was more than revenge — it was a timely boost ahead of the upcoming El Clásico. Despite widespread doubt before kickoff, Flick remained confident. He deployed a dynamic lineup with Raphinha and Yamal on the wings supporting Lewandowski, and a youthful midfield trio of Pedri, Casadó, and Fermín. With an average age of just 24.5, the team shocked the football world by slicing through Bayern’s defense three times in the first half alone. Raphinha, playing his 100th match for Barcelona, celebrated the occasion in style with a Champions League hat trick — the ultimate tribute.
While Kane and Lewandowski each found the net, Raphinha was undoubtedly the star of the night. Barça’s efficiency was striking. Early on, Casadó lofted a pinpoint pass into the box, where Raphinha broke free and fired a powerful strike past Upamecano into the bottom corner. According to Live Cricket BPL data, this was only the second time Barcelona scored three first-half goals against Bayern in Champions League history — a feat previously only achieved by Real Madrid. It was also the first time Bayern conceded three in the opening half of a UCL match since 2014.
In the 56th minute, Raphinha completed his hat trick. Yamal’s long pass sent him past both Upamecano and Kim Min-jae, and with ice in his veins, Raphinha slotted home again. The moment was a personal career highlight and a symbolic exclamation point in Barça’s revenge story. He became just the fourth Brazilian to net a Champions League hat trick for Barcelona, joining legends Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Neymar.
Flick’s tactical revolution at Barcelona is paying off. Moving away from the club’s traditional obsession with possession, he’s embraced a more direct and pragmatic attacking style — one that suits Raphinha’s pace and creativity. The numbers speak volumes: 9 goals and 8 assists in just 13 matches this season. That’s a marked improvement over last season, where he needed 26 appearances to achieve 17 total goal contributions.
The team’s efficiency was remarkable. Barcelona had just 39.5% possession — their lowest in a UCL win in 25 years with less than 43% control — yet scored on all four of their shots on target. It was a masterclass in clinical counter-attacking football, proving that sometimes less is more.
Flick’s Champions League record is nothing short of astonishing: 18 wins, 1 draw, and only 2 losses in 21 matches — an 85.7% win rate, the highest among coaches with over 10 UCL games. That run includes a record-setting 18 wins in his first 21 matches, underlining his elite status. Four years ago, Flick was Bayern’s savior and Barça’s tormentor. Now, the tables have turned, and he’s become a pivotal figure in the histories of both clubs.
Speaking after the match, Flick said that on a scale from 0 to 10, his happiness level was “very close to 10.” Life offers no rewinds, no do-overs — and in this moment, he’s savoring every second. Live Cricket BPL believes this win not only brightened Barça’s Champions League prospects but also signaled a new era of confidence and resurgence. As the saying goes, Barcelona truly turned the tables and held their heads high once more.