FC Bayern München have played FC Barcelona in four ties in Europe and have lost only once. The record of the treble winners from 2013 stands them in good stead ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight at the Camp Nou. DFB.de takes a look back at the history between two of the biggest sides in European football.
1996: Bayern prevail in UEFA Cup semi-final
When the two sides met in the UEFA Cup semi-finals back in April 1996, Bayern and new manager Otto Rehhagel were going through a tough phase after disappointing in front of their home fans early in the year. The same was to happen in the first leg against Barca as the two sides drew 2-2 in front of 63,000 spectators in Munich, leaving Bayern in a tough position going into the second leg back in Spain.
But then came the miracle in Barcelona. Rehhagel brought Thomas Helmer into the side in place of the injured Matthäus and surprisingly started Ciriao Sforza up front instead of Andreas Herzog. However, Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff made five changes to his side and started Luis Figo alongside his son Jordi.
It wasn’t strikers who grabbed the goals on that day. Defender Markus Babbel, who was at fault for a goal in the first leg, scored after 40 minutes to put Bayern 1-0 ahead in front of 115,000 spectators. Marcel Witeczek then scored to make it 2-0 in the 84th minute to send Bayern through to the final, although Barca did score a consolation in the 89th minute through Iván de la Pena.
1998: Bayern win twice in first year of Champions League
The two sides met for the first time in the Champions League in the 1998/1999 season. After a bad start in the group stage (one point from two games), only a win would do for Bayern on 21st October 1998. Barcelona arrived as group leaders but returned home in second after Bayern won 1-0 in front of 56,000 spectators at the Olympiastadion. The only goal of the game was scored by Stefan Effenberg just before half time.
In the return fixture on 4th November, Bayern achieved what they did back in 1996 but this time it wasn’t described as a miracle. After being behind 1-0 at half time through a Giovanni penalty (29‘), Bayern turned the game around after the break to win 2-1. Alexander scored the equaliser just after the restart before Hasan Salihamidzic scored the winner three minutes from time. Barcelona went out in the group stage, whilst Bayern returned to the Spanish city on 26th May 1999 for the final against Manchester United – a game that no Bayern fan will ever forget.
2009: Barca outclass Bayern in Champions League quarter-final
One of the semi-final participants was essentially already decided after the first half of the quarterfinal first leg between Barcelona and Bayern. The home side stormed into a 4-0 first-half lead and the German side’s performance was described as "Humiliating. A disaster! Amateur!"
Ahead of the clash, manager Jürgen Klinsmann announced that his side "have the quality to win against Barcelona." From the outset, it would be fair to say that Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry had different ideas. A certain Pep Guardiola, who was sent to the stands after only 18 minutes, masterminded the outstanding performance. His team had 64 percent possession during the first leg and Bayern were victims of Barcelona’s tiki-taka style of play.
The return leg was just a formality and even eternal optimist Klinsmann had given up beforehand. Nevertheless, the Allianz Arena was sold out for the tie. How many of the 66,000 spectators believed that the comeback was on when Franck Ribery put the Munich club ahead? It was a completely different game, Bayern had 50 percent possession and the defence was much more resolute with Lahm and Lucio back on board. However, Barca were unperturbed by Ribery reducing the deficit and putting the home side 1-0 up on the night and equalised through Keita. Bayern’s title dreams were derailed and Klinsmann was replaced as head coach just two weeks after the Barcelona game.
2013: Bayern humble Barca im Champions League semi-final
The 2013 semi-final went down in history. It all started on the 24th April in Munich. It was Barcelona’s first season after the departure of Guardiola and it was Jupp Heynckes last season as Bayern manager. The team wanted to secure the treble and had been crowned Bundesliga Champions 17 days before and reached the DFB Cup Final a week earlier.
Bayern, who were brimming with confidence, turned on the style and blew Barcelona away. They triumphed 4-0 – the first time a team had achieved this result in a Champions League semi-final. Goals came from Thomas Müller, Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben as Bayern dominated the statistics. They had 8 goalscoring opportunities to Barcelona’s 2 and 11 corners compared to 4 – never before was a victory more deserved. It was described as a "dismantling of a world club."
In the return leg on the 1st May, Bayern recorded a 3-0 victory at the Camp Nou courtesy of a Robben strike, a Pique own goal and a Müller header. This meant that Bayern completed the biggest aggregate win in a UEFA Champions League semi-final. It was also Barcelona’s heaviest aggregate defeat in UEFA competition.
Everyone in Germany was looking forward to the dream final at Wembley because Borussia Dortmund managed to overcome their Spanish opposition and knocked Real Madrid out of the competition. As we all know Bayern ended up lifting the trophy that year and their road to the final, just as it did in 1996 and 1999, went via Barcelona. A good omen?
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FC Bayern München have played FC Barcelona in four ties in Europe and have lost only once. The record of the treble winners from 2013 stands them in good stead ahead of the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tonight at the Camp Nou. DFB.de takes a look back at the history between two of the biggest sides in European football.
1996: Bayern prevail in UEFA Cup semi-final
When the two sides met in the UEFA Cup semi-finals back in April 1996, Bayern and new manager Otto Rehhagel were going through a tough phase after disappointing in front of their home fans early in the year. The same was to happen in the first leg against Barca as the two sides drew 2-2 in front of 63,000 spectators in Munich, leaving Bayern in a tough position going into the second leg back in Spain.
But then came the miracle in Barcelona. Rehhagel brought Thomas Helmer into the side in place of the injured Matthäus and surprisingly started Ciriao Sforza up front instead of Andreas Herzog. However, Barcelona manager Johan Cruyff made five changes to his side and started Luis Figo alongside his son Jordi.
It wasn’t strikers who grabbed the goals on that day. Defender Markus Babbel, who was at fault for a goal in the first leg, scored after 40 minutes to put Bayern 1-0 ahead in front of 115,000 spectators. Marcel Witeczek then scored to make it 2-0 in the 84th minute to send Bayern through to the final, although Barca did score a consolation in the 89th minute through Iván de la Pena.
1998: Bayern win twice in first year of Champions League
The two sides met for the first time in the Champions League in the 1998/1999 season. After a bad start in the group stage (one point from two games), only a win would do for Bayern on 21st October 1998. Barcelona arrived as group leaders but returned home in second after Bayern won 1-0 in front of 56,000 spectators at the Olympiastadion. The only goal of the game was scored by Stefan Effenberg just before half time.
In the return fixture on 4th November, Bayern achieved what they did back in 1996 but this time it wasn’t described as a miracle. After being behind 1-0 at half time through a Giovanni penalty (29‘), Bayern turned the game around after the break to win 2-1. Alexander scored the equaliser just after the restart before Hasan Salihamidzic scored the winner three minutes from time. Barcelona went out in the group stage, whilst Bayern returned to the Spanish city on 26th May 1999 for the final against Manchester United – a game that no Bayern fan will ever forget.
2009: Barca outclass Bayern in Champions League quarter-final
One of the semi-final participants was essentially already decided after the first half of the quarterfinal first leg between Barcelona and Bayern. The home side stormed into a 4-0 first-half lead and the German side’s performance was described as "Humiliating. A disaster! Amateur!"
Ahead of the clash, manager Jürgen Klinsmann announced that his side "have the quality to win against Barcelona." From the outset, it would be fair to say that Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry had different ideas. A certain Pep Guardiola, who was sent to the stands after only 18 minutes, masterminded the outstanding performance. His team had 64 percent possession during the first leg and Bayern were victims of Barcelona’s tiki-taka style of play.
The return leg was just a formality and even eternal optimist Klinsmann had given up beforehand. Nevertheless, the Allianz Arena was sold out for the tie. How many of the 66,000 spectators believed that the comeback was on when Franck Ribery put the Munich club ahead? It was a completely different game, Bayern had 50 percent possession and the defence was much more resolute with Lahm and Lucio back on board. However, Barca were unperturbed by Ribery reducing the deficit and putting the home side 1-0 up on the night and equalised through Keita. Bayern’s title dreams were derailed and Klinsmann was replaced as head coach just two weeks after the Barcelona game.
2013: Bayern humble Barca im Champions League semi-final
The 2013 semi-final went down in history. It all started on the 24th April in Munich. It was Barcelona’s first season after the departure of Guardiola and it was Jupp Heynckes last season as Bayern manager. The team wanted to secure the treble and had been crowned Bundesliga Champions 17 days before and reached the DFB Cup Final a week earlier.
Bayern, who were brimming with confidence, turned on the style and blew Barcelona away. They triumphed 4-0 – the first time a team had achieved this result in a Champions League semi-final. Goals came from Thomas Müller, Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben as Bayern dominated the statistics. They had 8 goalscoring opportunities to Barcelona’s 2 and 11 corners compared to 4 – never before was a victory more deserved. It was described as a "dismantling of a world club."
In the return leg on the 1st May, Bayern recorded a 3-0 victory at the Camp Nou courtesy of a Robben strike, a Pique own goal and a Müller header. This meant that Bayern completed the biggest aggregate win in a UEFA Champions League semi-final. It was also Barcelona’s heaviest aggregate defeat in UEFA competition.
Everyone in Germany was looking forward to the dream final at Wembley because Borussia Dortmund managed to overcome their Spanish opposition and knocked Real Madrid out of the competition. As we all know Bayern ended up lifting the trophy that year and their road to the final, just as it did in 1996 and 1999, went via Barcelona. A good omen?
