Calcutta: The last time this happened, Andres Iniesta started for Barcelona and Xavi was a substitute. Pep Guardiola and Manchester City hadn’t joined forces, Kobe Bryant was in the NBA, Roger Federer was three Grand Slam titles short of the 20 he finished with and Neeraj Chopra wasn’t even an under-20 world medalist. Do you remember where you were on May 6, 2015? Anyone for whom blue and garnet are more than just colors will probably do the same.

When Barcelona defeated Bayern Munich 3-0 that evening in the semi-final of the Champions League thanks to goals from Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr., the dark times, the fiscal problems, Messi’s tearful departure seemed as feasible as Covid- 19. No wonder Montjuïc, Barcelona’s temporary home base that looks like a hackneyed version of Camp Nou, shook after Bayern were clinically dismantled 4-1; Raphinha gets a hat-trick.

Bayern had not lost to Barcelona in six games since then. Forget the loss, Barcelona hadn’t even scored against them since the 2-8 defeat in Lisbon. In addition to Bayern’s six European titles, Barcelona had five, but this was no longer a clash of equals.

That made Wednesday special. Raphinha flying past Joshua Kimmich and finishing Manuel Neuer may have stunned Bayern but not shocked. They regrouped, Harry Kane scored twice, but with the other marginally offside, only one counted. After 18 minutes it was 1-1. Who would have thought that Bayern would be taken apart with a surgeon’s precision before the half was over?

Since this was a match between high line apostles, the teams had to stay 20 meters apart. A ridge of frenetic activity with an inviting plot of land on either side. Under Hansi Flick, Barcelona is willing to do things that are not Barcelona’s own. Such as immediately going up to speed and sacrificing possession of the ball; by the 73rd minute they had played almost 200 fewer passes than Bayern. But they were also ahead 4-1.

The Fermin Lopez-Robert Lewandowski firm was involved in the first two goals. Lewandoski’s hold-up play continued as Lopez found Raphinha. And it was Lopez’s chip, after an arm on the back of Kim Min-jae helped him latch onto Lamine Yamal’s lob, from which Lewandowski scored the second. In the defeat to Aston Villa, Bayern should have paid for leaving their central defenders isolated. They were guilty of that again.

Raphinha took control of the game just before half time. Marc Casado’s pass that found him would have made Xavi and Iniesta proud, but Raphinha showed the form he is in by forcing Raphaël Guerreiro to return and fire the shot even as Dayot Upamecano arrived a microsecond late. Like his Brazilian teammate Vinicius Jr, Raphinha completed a hat-trick but did not need stoppage time until the second half. He wasn’t even on the field yet, possibly with a view to Saturday’s Clásico in Real Madrid.

Raphinha showed composure, class and confidence to defy Bayern’s centre-backs Kim and Upamecano and put the ball well past Neuer for his third goal. The finish was worthy of a player with four goals and one assist in three Champions League games and five goals and seven assists in ten La Liga rounds. Just as importantly, Raphinha won the ball deep in his half to start the move.

“I have never had a player like Raphinha because he is incredibly dynamic, both with and without the ball,” said Flick. “Every team needs him, but we have him.”

“He always gives 100% in good times and bad. He works just as hard and gives everything for all his teammates. I am so happy for him tonight,” said Raphinha defender Jules Koundé.

This was billed as a match between Kane and Lewandowski, who between them have scored 29 goals in 24 games. Both scored and Kane showed glimpses of his passing range. There was Yamal, guile and technique in a combination that was so good for someone so young, a reverse pass from Thomas Mueller, a back heel from Kim and Pedri doing Pedri things, all beautiful. But this was Raphinha’s night.

One that marks the first Clasico of the season, with Barcelona leading the standings with 27 points and Real second with 24. Flick is right when he says it’s too early to say if they are contenders, but the last time they beat Bayern defeated, Barcelona won the Champions League. Yes, the offside trap, so vital to their defensive work, may not always work, but Barcelona look ready for Real and more.