Barcelona didn’t just beat Bayern Munich – they embarrassed them.
And it was a result that Spanish football correspondent Alvaro Romeo believes is more important than Saturday’s El Clasico meeting with Real Madrid.
Raphinha was Barcelona’s star as they beat Bayern 4-1 in the Champions League on WednesdayGetty
The Blaugrana have the hard task of trying to keep out Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham as they look to increase their three-point lead over Carlo Ancelotti‘s men.
But while Madrid are recognised as one of the world’s top sides, Barca enjoy regular success against them.
However it’s Bayern who the Catalan giants historically struggle against.
Barca went into Wednesday night’s Champions League meeting against the Bavarian outfit having won just two of their previous 15 meetings.
Following their 3-0 victory over Bayern in the Champions League semi-final first leg in May 2015, Barca had lost six consecutive matches.
That included the humiliating 8-2 defeat in the one-legged European Cup quarter-final clash in 2020, which Bayern – managed by now-Barcelona boss Hansi Flick – went on to triumph in.
Speaking on Hawksbee and Jacobs on Wednesday prior to Barca’s 4-1 thumping – which saw Raphinha bag a hat-trick – Romeo discussed the importance of the Spanish side ending their Bayern hoodoo.
He said: “This is one of the most important games that Barcelona has had this season.
“This game in my opinion is even more important than El Clasico, which happens on Saturday.
“Because it has got a symbolic element to it.
Barca breezed past Bayern at the Estadi Olímpic Lluis Companys – despite Harry Kane’s equaliserGetty
Flick’s men will now be looking to keep out Bellingham and Mbappe in this weekend’s El ClasicoGetty
“Bayern has been the ‘dark beast’ over Barcelona for the last seven or eight years.
“The last time that Barcelona beat Bayern, it was that day when [Lionel] Messi broke the legs of [Jerome] Boateng [in May 2015].
“But ever since then, Barcelona has suffered really, really significant and strong defeats against Bayern.”
But Barca were a team possessed against Bayern in their recent clash – scoring with all four of their shots on target to show their ruthless side.
It was a performance reminiscent of Bayern under Flick as they wrapped up their second victory of the revamped Champions League.
And it was the perfect preparation for Flick’s first El Clasico – as Barca sent a warning to Europe – not just Madrid – that they are back in business.
