Barcelona forward Raphinha said Wednesday’s thumping 4-1 Champions League win over Bayern Munich served as “revenge” for the club’s supporters for past results against the German giants.
Raphinha was the star of the game as he bagged a hat trick on his 100th appearance for Barça as the Catalan club ended a run of six successive defeats against Bayern in the competition.
The former Leeds star was only there for two of those games — and he had not signed for Barça when they lost 8-2 to Bayern in 2020 — but he said he experienced them all as a supporter.
“It was revenge for the fans I think,” Raphinha said after the game. “For us on the inside, the players, we don’t look at the past. We focus on the next game. But I suffered those games as a fan, too.
“It’s been an amazing, special night, scoring [a hat trick] on my 100th game for the club. I am very happy with the performance and how we played.
“As a team, we played really well and that’s the most important thing for me. Getting that second win in the Champions League was important.”
Barça and Bayern both came into the fixture at the Olympic Stadium with one win and one loss from their opening games in this season’s Champions League.
Raphinha opened the scoring inside the opening minute, but Harry Kane drew Bayern level with his 14th goal of the season in all competitions.
Robert Lewandowski restored Barça’s lead before half-time and two more goals from Raphinha either side of the break earned Barça the points in a game the former Leeds United attacker feels could have been the final.
“I said before the game this could be a Champions League final,” he added. “Maybe not everyone agrees with me, but in my opinion it could be.
“So to be able to win in this manner, in front of our fans, is quite special and I am really happy.”
Raphinha now has nine goals and six assists in all competitions in what is his third season with the Blaugrana.
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