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Bayern Munich eased past Barcelona in their first game of the Champions League on Tuesday as they scored three goals without a reply.
Heading into the fixture, all the talk was about how Bayern Munich had demolished Barcelona the last time the two sides played.
While there was little to suggest a Barcelona team sans Lionel Messi could match up with Bayern Munich, the manner in which the Bavarians won was impressive.
Julian Nagelsmann’s side hardly broke a sweat as they relied on a Thomas Muller strike and a Robert Lewandowski brace to pick up a 3-0 win away from home.
Several Bayern Munich players impressed on the night. So without further ado, let’s take a look at the five best players from the German side against Barcelona.
Bayern Munich's 5 best players from their 3-0 win against Barcelona at Camp Nou
#5 Dayot Upamecano
Dayot Upamecano put in a dominating display at the back for Bayern Munich as he barely let anyone past him.
Although Barcelona threatened to put in some early passes behind Upamecano and the high Bayern Munich defensive line, the Frenchman dealt with it without much effort.
The Dutch duo of Memphis Depay and Luuk de Jong had a bit of early possession. However, they failed to trouble Upamecano, who comfortably intercepted everything that came his way.
With speed and physicality up his sleeve, the 22-year-old is looking like a really good buy already. He finished the game with four tackles, four interceptions, and a pass success rate of 89%.
#4 Leon Goretzka
Leon Goretzka is once again looking like the monster that Hansi Flick created when he led Bayern Munich to the treble in the 2019-21 season.
The former Schalke midfielder never stopped running and pressing the Barcelona players when they had the ball. He put in a tenacious display in the middle of the park alongside Joshua Kimmich.
Goretzka’s pressing led to Bayern Munich winning a lot of turnovers in midfield. He managed more interceptions (five) than any other player on the pitch and was an instrumental figure for the Bavarians.
If the German remains fit for the entire season, Bayern Munich will have a formidable midfield that could possibly challenge for a seventh Champions League title.
#3 Leroy Sane
Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane caused havoc against Barcelona with his pace and directness. He could have even had a goal if it hadn’t been for an excellent reaction save from Marc Andre ter Stegen.
Sane’s link-up play with the likes of Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski was impressive, and Barcelona’s inexperienced defense failed to deal with the trio.
Nagelsmann’s side press from the front, and Sane was instrumental as he closed down in the attacking third. He seems to have found his mojo once again, which bodes well for both Bayern Munich and the German national team.
#2 Jamal Musiala
Bayern Munich’s teenage sensation Jamal Musiala continues to impress, and he certainly outshone all the talented Barcelona players.
Known for his quick feet, Musiala didn’t shy away from taking on players and completed the most dribbles (four) in the game.
Despite his tender age, he has shown a maturity that belies his age. His weight of pass was impeccable. Apart from a couple of occasions, he got his head up to find players in the box.
The 18-year old was perhaps unlucky not to find the back of the net with a stinging shot that hit the post. However, the rebound eventually fell to Robert Lewandowski, who calmly tapped in to make it 2-0.
#1 Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski seems to relish big games, and he didn’t look unfazed after a few robust challenges by the Barcelona defense in the first half.
The Poland star showed his predatory instincts in the box when he was there to tap in Musiala’s rebound off the post. He then showed his incredible composure in front of goal to score his second goal.
Lewandowski's brace means he now has an incredible 75 goals in just 97 Champions League games. He even has a better goals-to-game ratio than all-time tournament top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo!
Although he is 33, Lewandowski shows no signs of slowing down and will be a key player for Bayern Munich this season.
