LISBON: A merciless Bayern Munich inflicted a humiliating, record defeat on Barcelona on Friday, recording a scarcely believable 8-2 victory in their Champions League quarter-final in Lisbon to leave Lionel Messi forlorn and surely hastening in the end of an era for the illustrious Catalan club.

Thomas Mueller scored twice either side of goals from Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry after 31 astonishing minutes at an empty Estadio da Luz, with a David Alaba own-goal having briefly brought Barcelona back level.

Luis Suarez pulled it back to 4-2 at one point in the second half, but Barcelona then caved in, with Joshua Kimmich getting Bayern’s fifth before three more goals in the final stages, one for the prolific Robert Lewandowski and two for substitute Philippe Coutinho.

That was the really humiliating part for the beaten side, with Coutinho on loan in Bavaria from Barcelona, who spent 160 million euros on signing the Brazilian in 2018 but never got the best out of him.

“Brutal,” Kimmich said. “We knew it is never easy against Barcelona, but this is an unbelievable result. It’s hard to comprehend beating Barcelona 8-2. We were so focused from the first minute, we wanted to get forward with intent. An incredible result in the end, but we’re not done yet.”

Bayern coach Hansi Flick hailed an “outstanding” display from his side but stressed that they were firmly focused on the semi-final, which will be against Manchester City or Olympique Lyonnais.

“We knew that if we put them under pressure, we would get chances,” Flick said. “We have such quality and intensity in this team, now we need to recharge and focus on the next game, where we start again from zero.”

It is Barcelona’s worst European defeat and the worst of Messi’s career.

The game was eerily reminiscent of Germany’s 7-1 destruction of Brazil in the 2014 World Cup, a game in which Mueller also played and scored, and Flick was on the bench as the national team’s assistant coach.

Germany went on to win that World Cup and Bayern look a good bet to win their first Champions League since 2013 and a sixth title, which would move them ahead of Barca.

“In the 7-1 win in Brazil we didn’t have the same amount of control. Yes we were good but tonight the way we dominated the game was brutal,” said Mueller. “We had so much fun today. Of course, Barcelona are special, so we had to be even more aggressive and come back again and again.”

This was Bayern’s 19th consecutive victory in all competitions, and a 28th game unbeaten for Flick’s side. They have now scored 39 goals in nine Champions League outings this season.

END OF AN ERA

But the story of this game is Barcelona’s remarkable capitulation and the question is what happens to them now.

Messi was 27 when they last won the Champions League in 2015. He is 33 now and this game may make up his mind that he needs to finally leave the Camp Nou if he is to win it again.

Barca have just about been here before: They were torn apart by Bayern in the 2013 semi-finals, losing 7-0 on aggregate, but this was eight goals in 90 minutes.

And with an ageing team featuring six players aged 31 or older, this has to be the end of an era.

“It’s a disastrous result. An embarrassment. This, today, is unacceptable. We feel devastated, although shame is the real word I’m looking for,” said Barca defender Gerard Pique, adding that the historic defeat called for urgent changes across the club. “The club needs changes. I’m not talking about the level of the players or coach, but structurally the club needs all sorts of changes.”

The humbling loss ended a forgettable season for Barca, one that included a coaching change and public disputes between players and team officials. It is the first time since 2008 the club has finished a season without a significant title. They haven’t lifted the European trophy since 2015.

Quique Setien’s remaining time as coach is expected to be counted in hours. He was already under fire after Barca relinquished the La Liga lead — and title — to Real Madrid after the competition resumed following the pandemic break.

“Right now it’s too soon to be talking about whether I stay at the club or not,” Setien said. “The reality is that it doesn’t depend on me. It’s worth all of us working out what’s important and considering a wide range of things which correspond to a defeat of this importance and which is so painful.”

RUNNING RIOT

Bayern went ahead in the fourth minute as Mueller controlled a ball in from the left by Perisic and played a one-two with Lewandowski to scuff a shot low past compatriot Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

But within three minutes Barca had struck back -- Clement Lenglet’s super long ball found Jordi Alba in space and Alaba’s attempt to deal with his searching cross ended up flying past his own keeper Manuel Neuer.

For a very brief spell Barca were even on top, as Neuer saved from Suarez and a Messi cross came back off the far upright.

But Bayern, suffocating their opponents with their pressing, went back in front midway through the first half. Gnabry won back possession on the edge of the final third before feeding Perisic, who fired past Ter Stegen and into the far corner.

That was the first of three goals in a 10-minute spell.

Leon Goretzka’s deft touch over the top took out Clement Lenglet and Gnabry drilled home to make it 3-1. Flick’s side were running riot and it got worse for Barca when Mueller stole in front of Lenglet to turn in Kimmich’s delivery from the right for 4-1.

Suarez briefly gave Barca something to cling to as he controlled Alba’s assist, bodyswerved away from Jerome Boateng and fired home in the 57th.

Yet there would be no comeback, as Kimmich converted Bayern’s fifth in the 63rd following a remarkable assist by Alphonso Davies.

Lewandowski scored with a header in the 82nd, and as Barcelona collapsed, Coutinho made it seven in the 85th minute at the end of a move started when Messi was robbed of possession and then had time to score another in the 89th.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2020