5 Heart-Stopping Matches That Prove Barca-Bayern Is THE UCL Rivalry to Beat

When Barcelona and Bayern Munich take to the pitch on Wednesday night, the stage will be set for another electrifying encounter between two of the biggest names in European football. With 11 matchups in the Champions League already under their belt, this fixture has more than earned its reputation as one of the most exciting and unpredictable rivalries in the competition. Ahead of their latest clash, we take a look back at five epic battles between the Spanish giants and the Bavarian powerhouses that showcase just why their matches are always must-see TV.

1. 2013: Bayern Munich 4, Barcelona 0 (Champions League Semifinal)

This semi-final showdown was supposed to be a closely contested tie between two of the continent's top teams, but in the end, Bayern ran riot at the Allianz Arena, thrashing Barca 4-0 in one of the most one-sided matches the Catalans had ever suffered in Europe.

2. 2008: Barcelona 4, Bayern Munich 0 (Champions League Quarterfinal)

Just like Bayern's 2013 demolition of Barca, this match was a landslide victory for the Catalan side. With Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto'o, and Thierry Henry forming a deadly attacking trio, Barca cruised to a 4-0 win at the Camp Nou, putting them firmly in the driving seat to progress to the semis.

3. 2015: Barcelona 3, Bayern Munich 2 (Champions League Semifinal)

This match was an absolute barnburner, with Barca eventually emerging as the winners in a thrilling 3-2 victory at the Camp Nou. A Robert Lewandowski double for Bayern had the visitors dreaming of a comeback, but Messi scored a dramatic winner in the 77th minute to send the Catalan crowd into raptures.

4. 2009: Barcelona 1, Bayern Munich 1 (Champions League Quarterfinal)

This match may not have had the same high-scoring drama as some of the other clashes on this list, but the tension and drama more than made up for it. Yaya Toure's goal for Barca looked like it would be enough to seal the win, only for Franck Ribery to net an equalizer with only 10 minutes remaining, forcing the Spanish side to sweat in the return leg.

5. 2015: Bayern Munich 3, Barcelona 2 (Champions League Semifinal, second leg)

Bayern Munich's quest for revenge in the second leg of their 2015 semi-final tie ultimately fell short, as Barca's earlier 3-0 win at the Camp Nou proved too great a deficit to overcome. Still, this match was an epic encounter in its own right, with Mehdi Benatia and Lewandowski both finding the back of the net for the hosts in a comeback that would ultimately prove futile.