Raphinha steals the show with a hat trick in Barcelona’s statement win over Bayern

By: The Associated Press Posted: 4:18 PM CDT Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024 Last Modified: 5:34 PM CDT Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

Advertise with us

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona's game against Bayern Munich was billed as a duel between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. Then Raphinha stole the show and left to a standing ovation.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona's game against Bayern Munich was billed as a duel between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. Then Raphinha stole the show and left to a standing ovation.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/10/2024 (679 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona’s game against Bayern Munich was billed as a duel between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. Then Raphinha stole the show and left to a standing ovation.

Kane and Lewandowski both scored, but the Brazilian winger’s hat trick for Barcelona outshone both of the strikers in Barcelona’s 4-1 statement win in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“I have a fantastic team, and the players are unbelievable. But I’ve never had a player like Raphinha, because he’s incredibly dynamic both with and without the ball,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “Every single team needs him, but we have him.”

Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick greets Barcelona's Raphinha as he is substituted during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Raphinha joined a select group of players who’ve scored hat tricks against Bayern in the Champions League — only Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Aguero and Roy Makaay had done it before.

“He always gives 100% in good and bad times. He’s working just as hard and giving everything for all his teammates. I’m so happy for him tonight,” defender Jules Koundé said of Raphinha.

Each of his three goals stood out in its own way. First, Raphinha darted in behind Bayern’s defense to score in the very first minute, then he shot the ball between defender Dayot Upamecano’s legs to score his second just before halftime.

The third goal saw Raphinha display his technique to control Lamine Yamal’s cross-field pass on his chest and exploit the gap between two defenders before completing the hat trick.

Barcelona’s fans were again on their feet to applaud when Raphinha, who had also captained the team because of Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury, was substituted in the 75th, leaving him a little fresher for Saturday’s “Clasico” against Real Madrid.

Raphinha’s demolition job on the Bayern defense also means plaudits for Flick, who was the comprehensive winner against his old team, Bayern, with whom Flick beat Barcelona 8-2 in 2020.

The loss throws Bayern’s season under new coach Vincent Kompany into turmoil.

Bayern began its Champions League campaign with a record-breaking 9-2 demolition of Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb but is now 23rd in the Champions League standings, one place below Zagreb, after back-to-back losses to Aston Villa and Barcelona. Across all competitions, Bayern has won just one of its last five games.

The ease with which Raphinha was able to exploit gaps in the back line could reopen questions about whether Bayern, which has now conceded seven goals in its last three games, remains fragile in defense.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer