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Barcelona's coach Hansi Flick has called for improvement from his team despite a big win against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
LALIGA giants Barcelona finally ended their Bayern Munich hoodoo with a stunning 4-1 Champions League victory at Montjuic, yet coach Hansi Flick insists his team must still improve despite the dominant display.
The Blaugrana, who had lost their previous six meetings against the Bavarian giants, made an immediate statement when Raphinha opened the scoring in the first minute.
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The Brazilian forward, who would go on to complete a memorable hat-trick, cleverly rounded Manuel Neuer after latching onto Fermín Lopez's precise through ball.
Despite the impressive scoreline, Flick who replaced Xavi Hernandez in the summer remained critical of certain aspects of his team's performance.
"Today in some moments we did not press well, we must improve that," he stated post-match. "We went 1-0 up and started really well, but then struggled a little bit.’
“They deserved to equalise because they played well, but we came back and were brave and had lots of possession,” he added per UEFA.com. “I think how we created the chances and also how we finished them was unbelievable."
The match lived up to its billing as a Champions League classic. After Barcelona's early strike, Bayern responded through Harry Kane, who found the net in the 18th minute after being denied twice earlier - once by Inaki Pena's reflexes and once by the offside flag.
However, Barcelona's attack proved irresistible. Robert Lewandowski restored the lead with a clinical first-time finish, capitalising on Fermin's clever movement that caught both Kim Min-Jae and Neuer off guard.
Raphinha then struck his second just before halftime, threading the ball through Dayot Upamecano's legs after receiving Marc Casado's excellent pass.
The Brazilian completed his hat-trick in style, connecting with Lamine Yamal's exceptional pass to put the game beyond doubt. Bayern's attempts to mount a comeback, including Kingsley Coman's wayward effort, proved futile against Barcelona's resolute defence.
The victory puts Barcelona in a strong position with six points in their Champions League campaign, while Bayern Munich face mounting pressure after suffering their second consecutive defeat in the competition.
This commanding performance not only ended Barcelona's losing streak against Bayern but also sent a clear message about their ambitions in this season's Champions League.
However, Flick's post-match comments suggest that the Blaugrana's impressive display still leaves room for improvement as they continue their European campaign.
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