Bayern Munich's 8-2 thumping of Barcelona last week in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League is one of those results that casts a long shadow. Rather than being seen as an aberration, it looks like the standard – if you can accomplish this once, why can't you do it again and again and again?

This is why Bayern's comfortable and comprehensive 3-0 win over Ligue 1's Lyon feels like a letdown. Two weeks ago, it would have been a sign of their continued dominance; now, it's a sign of weakness.

The main difference is that, in 2020, Lyon are a significantly better team than Barcelona. The opening 15 minutes were pure back and forth as the front two of Lyon's 3-5-2 formation, Karl Toko Ekambi and Memphis Depay, took long balls with ease and burst into the space of Bayern's back four.

Their attempts were skittish yet full of genuine attacking intent. In the 17th minute, Toko Ekambi had a shot blocked by Alphonso Davies and had the wherewithal to catch the rebound and make a shot that bounced off the post.

If every action has an equal and opposite reaction, then this moment of pure luck for Bayern was instantly followed up by an action of pure skill by their forward Serge Gnabry. Joshua Kimmich shipped the ball down the right wing to Gnabry who picked it up and, as if in tribute to Bayern legend Arjen Robben, cut inside – then cut even further when Lyon thought they had him pinned and smashed in a left-footed goal.

This changed the complexion of the game. Lyon were willing to trade with Bayern to start with; now they knew what they were up against and began to hunker down and absorb the Bavarians' swarming attacks. Thankfully for them, the German champions weren't as clean and crisp as they were against Barcelona.

There was perhaps also a problem with the pitch as, in the exact same spot – to the front-left of the Lyon goal – Leon Goretzka, Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski all stumbled while trying to play the ball. Perhaps it was coincidence. Either way, the third time was the charm as Lewandowski's stumble sent the ball into Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes' path. He parried it away into the path of an oncoming Gnabry who stole a brace with a simple tap-in on 33 minutes.

It was far less flashy than the dismantling they did to Barcelona, but this 2-0 showed Bayern's fundamental strengths. Kimmich to Gnabry showed the team's talent for ball placement as well as individual quality, Lewandowski (sort of) to Gnabry showed how quickly they can apply pressure and control the flow of the game.

For the remainder of the half, the trend continued. Bayern pushed the pace only to find themselves a little out of sync. Goal machine Lewandowski missed at least one sitter and accidentally deflected a decent looking volley from Goretzka.

The second half continued the same way. A lesser side would have been frustrated, but a 2-0 lead and an attacking style that essentially forced Lyon into needing a lucky break meant Bayern never seemed worried, much like Manchester City did in their capitulation to the French side.

On the hour, Lyon traded out Memphis Depay for Moussa Dembele. This small moment is a reminder of just how far above their weight Lyon are punching. Depay and Dembele should realistically be playing together in front of wingers Maxwel Cornet and Leo Dubois; instead the team felt they had to rest one for the final half-hour as their bench simply isn't deep enough to risk injuries or rotate top talent.

Dembele immediately made an impact. He was the first step in a three-player chain, first to Houssem Aouar and then to Toko Ekambi who, as with his post shot in the first half, had the best chance of the second as he got free and tried to go low around Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The big man had it covered and rescued a clean sheet by saving the ball with his legs.

With 15 minutes remaining, man of the match Gnabry was substituted by manager Hansi Flick for Philippe Coutinho. He was a super sub against Barcelona and, here, he was almost the same as he had the ball in the net in the 80th minute. The goal was ruled offside, however, but it established the Brazilian as a threat.

At this point, the game was over and it felt like a flex for Bayern to swap out Thiago Alcantara and Goretzka for World Cup winners Benjamin Pavard and Corentin Tolisso. All they had to do was maintain the pressure and prevent any last-minute surprises from Lyon.

In the 88th minute, Thiago Mendes fouled Kimmich and the ensuing free kick led to a header from Lewandowski to make it 3-0. It wouldn't feel right if a Bayern Munich game ended without him getting a goal.