Barcelona, who have dominated the European competition over the last five years, were given a thrashing by hosts Bayern Munich in the first-leg of the semi-final. PHOTO: REUTERS
Bayern Munich are on the verge of their third Champions League final in four years after routing Barcelona 4-0 in the semi-final, first-leg at the Allianz Arena.
Germany star Thomas Mueller was Barca’s chief tormentor with a goal in each half, while striker Mario Gomez and Dutch winger Arjen Robben also netted to give Bayern a huge advantage for the return leg at the Camp Nou on May 1.
Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura admitted his team would need a near miracle to now reach their third Champions League final since 2009.
“Miracles are always hard to make real, 4-0 is a huge deficit to make up,” said Roura. “I don’t know if anyone has come back from a score like that in the history of the Champions League, but we’ll do what we can. This is a big defeat which hurts us a lot.”
Meanwhile, Barca defender Gerard Pique believes they still need to put up a fight.
“They thrashed us,” admitted Pique. “It is almost impossible, but we have to show face in the return leg.”
Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi started, despite struggling with a hamstring injury since the start of the month, but the World Player of the Year was a shadow of his usual self. However, he said that Bayern Munich’s strength, rather than his own lack of fitness, was the reason for the beating.
“I had been out for a while without playing since the injury, but I felt fine,” said Messi. “I could not do much about the result, it was a pity.”
In contrast, Bayern, who are bidding to become the first German team to win a treble of European as well as domestic league and cup titles, were buoyant.
“That’s crazy, hard to believe,” said Robben. “They’ve dominated Europe in the last few years and then we go and win 4-0. The key was we fought and defended together.”
But Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes warned the job was only half done.
“Of course, we’re all very happy about the win, especially the size of the margin. We were first-class,” said Heynckes. “But we know we still have 90 minutes ahead of us in Spain.
“We want to enjoy tonight, but nothing more.”
An extraordinary day with some unusual moments
An exceptional day for Bayern got off to an unusual start when it was announced they had signed young Germany star Mario Goetze from archrivals Borussia Dortmund for a reported €37 million.
Then it was reported that, in March, club president Uli Hoeness caught up in a tax evasion scandal, was arrested and released on bail after a police raid on his home, but he was at the Allianz Arena to witness an incredible night.
Jordi Roura
“Miracles are always hard to make real, 4-0 is a huge deficit to make up. I don’t know if anyone has come back from a score like that in the history of the Champions League.”
Jupp Heynckes
“Of course, we are all very happy about the win, especially the size of the margin. But we know we still have 90 minutes ahead of us in Spain and anything can happen.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 25th, 2013.
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