Bayern Munich inflicted on Barcelona the most humiliating defeat of the Lionel Messi era and among the worst in team history by 8-2 to reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Bayern’s stunning start to the standout quarter final between the only past champions in the last eight saw Thomas Muller score twice and Ivan Perisic and Serge Gnabry add on in the first half hour on Friday.

Barcelona conceded eight for the first time since 1946 after Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski and Philippe Coutinho (twice) piled on in the second half. Barcelona tallied only seven shots on target in the whole game, getting on the board with an own-goal by David Alaba in the first half and through Luis Suarez in the second.

“It’s a disastrous result. An embarrassment,” Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said. “This, today, is unacceptable.”

Bayern are seeking their first title since 2013.

“Brutal,” Kimmich said. “It’s hard to comprehend beating Barcelona 8-2. We were so focused from the first minute, we wanted to get forward with intent. An incredible result in the end, but we’re not done yet.”

Bayern’s biggest victory in Champions League history kept alive their quest for a sixth title, which would move them ahead of Barcelona. They have the most wins against Barcelona in the tournament’s history.

“We knew that if we put them under pressure, we would get chances,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick said. “We have such quality and intensity in this team, now we need to recharge and focus on the next game, where we start again from zero.”

The humbling loss ended a forgettable season for Barcelona, one that included a coaching change and public disputes between players and team officials. It is the first time since 2008 the club has finished a season without a significant title. They haven’t lifted the European trophy since 2015.

Quique Setien’s remaining time as coach is expected to be counted in hours. He was already under fire after Barcelona relinquished the Spanish league lead — and title — to Real Madrid after the competition resumed following the pandemic break.

In a hectic start at Benfica’s Stadium of Light, Barcelona paid for defensive mistakes against Bayern’s potent attack, which reached 39 goals in nine games in this Champions League.

Just four minutes in, Muller scored from inside the area after a breakaway that started when Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets gave the ball away at midfield. Barcelona equalized three minutes later when Alaba found his own net while trying to intercept a pass by Jordi Alba to Suarez.

With his double, Muller reached six goals in five matches against Barcelona on the occasion of becoming the German player with the most appearances in the Champions League at 113.

Stats the way

• Barca conceded eight for the first time since the 0-8 loss to Sevilla in 1946, in the final of Copa Del Generalisimo Francisco Franco, the equivalent of modern-day Copa del Rey
• Also, Barca’s largest margin of defeat since the 0-6 loss to Espanyol in the Spanish league in 1951
• Only the second time that Barcelona conceded five goals in a European match, after the 4-5 second-leg loss at Levski Sofia in the 1975-76 Uefa Cup quarter finals
• Bayern’s eight goals tied the record for most by a club in a match in the Champions League era. Borussia Dortmund beat Legia Warsaw 8-4 in the 2016-17 group stage
• Eight goals is the most scored by a club in a Champions League era knockout stage