The last time Bayern Munich met Barcelona at Lisbon in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, the match turned out to be an absolute nightmare for the Catalans. It was a thrashing victory for the German Giants where they beat Barca by 8-2.
The nightmare still haunts Barca and since then many things have changed in Barca, but in terms of displaying ruthless football, Bayern Munich remain the same – Hansi Flick left and under Julian Naglesmann, Bayern are the same brute force.
Bayern Munich are much, much better than Barcelona and boast a brilliant record against the Catalans. Still, Nagelsmann remains humble and keeping his feet on the ground.
Nagelsmann has warned that Barcelona still pose a major threat to his side’s Champions League prospects, even without the departed Lionel Messi, ahead of the pair’s clash on Tuesday.
The Bavarian giants and the Catalan heavyweights will kick off their European campaigns in a mouthwatering Group E encounter at Camp Nou this week, in arguably the pick of the first round of fixtures.
Ronald Koeman’s side is entering the continental competition for the first time without former captain Messi in over a decade-and-a-half – but regardless of the Argentine’s absence, Nagelsmann feels they remain stern opposition.
“It’s difficult to say if they’re stronger or weaker, but they’re different. They don’t have that extravagant style anymore without Messi, but they have players who can step out of his shadow,” Nagelsmann told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game.
“Barca have changed the structure of their defence, they’re pressing very high. That’s something they didn’t do with Messi at Barca in the past two to three years.”
“Messi was a player who attracted the ball a lot. You always looked for him but now several players will have to take responsibility. They have an interesting mixture of young players that can develop.”
The last time the two sides met in the Champions League, Bayern thrashed Barcelona 8-2 in the quarter-finals en route to the title in the 2019-20 season but goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said that result would have no bearing on the game at the Camp Nou.
“So many things have changed in the meantime. We’re not thinking about that 8-2 win. We’re playing a new team, we have a new team,” Neuer said.
“We’ll obviously never forget our game in 2020, but these are two new group stage games and we’re looking forward to two big ones.”
“So many things have changed in the meantime. We’re not thinking about that 8-2 win. We’re playing a new team, we have a new team,” Neuer said.
“We’ll obviously never forget our game in 2020, but these are two new group stage games and we’re looking forward to two big ones.”
Nagelsmann said Serge Gnabry would have to pass a late fitness test to play but Corentin Tolisso was left out due to a calf problem. Kingsley Coman is also in the squad but may not start the game.
The German coach said new signing Marcel Sabitzer needed more time to adapt to the team before the midfielder can make the starting lineup.
“Marcel has to acclimatise here,” Nagelsmann said.
“He arrived two days earlier than those who travelled for the international break but only trained once with the squad before the RB Leipzig game.”
