Champions League: Bayern dreaming of treble after 'amazing' 6-1 victory

The German giants demolished Porto to reach last-four

MUNICH/BARCELONA: Bayern Munich's 6-1 demolition of Porto on Tuesday for a spot in the Champions League semi-finals was just what the injury-plagued team, chasing a treble, needed to recover.

Despite a string of absences, including Arjen Robben, David Alaba, Franck Ribery and Medhi Benatia, and internal turmoil following the sudden departure of their long-time doctor, Bayern were sublime in the first-half scoring five times.

"It’s difficult to find the right words to explain this," Bayern's Thomas Mueller, whose goal made him Germany's all-time top scorer in the competition with 27, told reporters. "It could not have worked better than it did. A lot was said before the game about us but to play such a first half is absolutely amazing."

Bayern, with Bastian Schweinsteiger back from injury but left on the bench, struck three times in 13 minutes and added two more late in the first period to blow away the Portuguese and wipe out the 3-1 first leg deficit.

"Now we can joke about it but it was a huge piece of work. When you're with your back to the wall then sometimes that is a good thing," said Mueller. "There are times in a season when you win something from a game and that was one such game," he added, referring to the confidence boost from such an important victory.

Bayern, who could clinch the Bundesliga title this weekend and are also in the German Cup semi-finals, are attempting to repeat their 2013 treble-winning season and add a sixth European crown to their collection of silverware.

Mueller's teammate Robert Lewandowski, who scored twice on Tuesday, is confident the German side, eyeing its fourth Champions League final since 2010, is not done yet. "We played an amazing game. It was a lot of hard work and a lot of people thought we would not make it," said the Poland striker. "But we can do everything now. We are still a strong team. We always want to step on the pedal no matter who we play.

Barca treble depends on pressing game: Enrique

Barcelona's ability to continue dictating play by pushing high up the pitch will determine if they can win a treble, said coach Luis Enrique after they reached the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday.

Barca made a slow start to the campaign under their new coach but after beating Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-finals they are on course to repeat the treble success of 2009 achieved in Pep Guardiola's first year at the helm.

In the first-half against the French side, who they beat 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate, Barcelona matched some of the best football of Guardiola's era when they won three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies.

On Tuesday night, a majestic run by Andres Iniesta from his own half saw him set up Neymar for the opener against PSG before the Brazilian headed in Dani Alves' cross with just over half an hour played.

"Everything depends on us being able to defend and put pressure on the opposition and for that you need the players to deliver," Luis Enrique told a news conference. "This is crucial to our style of play. You can see it each week where the team not only has a great attacking threat but you can also have confidence in them in all areas of the pitch.

"Hopefully the best is still to come for this team.”

 

 

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