They say the statistics don’t lie, and that has been highlighted Mundo Sports could be the difference between FC Barcelona’s 4-1 win over Bayern Munich on Wednesday and a resounding 8-2 defeat against the same opponent in 2020.

Because of the latter defeat in the quarter-finals in Lisbon, often referred to as Barca’s darkest night in Europe – and because of other group stage defeats that followed later in the decade so far – Bayern were dubbed “Barca’s Night” and “Ogre”. bogeyman of the continent.

However, at the Montjuic Stadium this week, Barca fans were able to dream of what this season could be with other key performances from players such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Fermin Lopez and Marc Casado thanks to a hat-trick from Raphinha and a goal from Robert Lewandowski.

Hansi Flick, of course, was in charge of Barca’s breakthrough victory and was on the other side of the ball as his eventual treble-winning Bayern side humiliated Quique Setien’s men and prompted his decision by then-president Josep Bartomeu.

But while there are so many variables in a high-stakes game of top-level European football, it may be that the amount of running Barca put in in that 8-2 dismantling job proved decisive this time.

Barca’s players covered a total of 126.55 kilometers – almost six more than Bayern’s 120.58 kilometers – compared to just 98 kilometers when the two giants met in 2020.

This figure can also be compared to the 118.59 kilometers and 117.8 kilometers that Barca covered in group stage defeats against the Bundesliga champions two seasons ago, when they failed to advance to the knockout stages under Xavi Hernandez .

With the Clasico looming this weekend, Barca’s remarkably improved pressing and physicality could also play a crucial role against a Real Madrid team that their coach Carlo Ancelotti has repeatedly said of late is lacking intensity.

In their own Champions League game against Bayern’s home opponents Borussia Dortmund, Madrid lost 2-0 at the Bernabeu before winning 5-2.

However, at the same ground on Saturday night, Barca might not be so forgiving if they allow them to run riot in the first half and build up such a lead.