BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona’s game against Bayern Munich was billed as a duel between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski. Then Raphinha stole the show and left to a standing ovation.

Kane and Lewandowski both scored, but the Brazilian winger’s hat-trick for Barcelona surpassed the two strikers in Barcelona’s 4-1 Champions League victory on Wednesday.

Each of his three goals was outstanding in its own way. First, Raphinha shot behind the Bayern defense and scored in the first minute, then he shot the ball between the legs of defender Dayot Upamecano and scored his second goal just before halftime.

For the third goal, Raphinha showed his technique to control Lamine Yamal’s cross pass on his chest and exploit the gap between two defenders before completing the hat-trick.

Barcelona fans were once again on their feet and applauding when Raphinha, who had also been captain of the team due to Marc-André ter Stegen’s injury, was substituted in the 75th minute, leaving him for Saturday’s ‘Clasico’ against Real Madrid made it a little fresher.

Raphinha’s devastating job in Bayern’s defense also means praise for Barcelona coach Hansi Flick, who was the clear winner against his old team Bayern, with whom Flick beat Barcelona 8-2 in 2020.

The defeat throws Bayern’s season under new coach Vincent Kompany into turmoil.

Bayern began their Champions League campaign with a record-breaking 9-2 win against Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb, but are now in 23rd place in the Champions League standings, one place behind Zagreb, after two defeats against Aston Villa and Barcelona . Across all competitions, FC Bayern have only won one of their last five games.

The ease with which Raphinha was able to exploit gaps in the defense could once again raise questions about whether Bayern, who have now conceded seven goals in their last three games, remain vulnerable at the back.

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