Bayern romps past Barca to set up all-German final
Source: Agencies |
May 3, 2013, Friday
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BARCELONA star Lionel Messi watched from the sideline as Bayern Munich completed its dismantling of the Spanish side with a 3-0 win on Wednesday, lining up the first all-German Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
With its all-time leading scorer out after he aggravated a right hamstring injury, Barcelona failed to seriously threaten Bayern's goal, much less make an epic comeback after its 0-4 first-leg defeat.
Bayern, meanwhile, humbled a team that has been the envy of European football for a second time in only nine days.
"I think it is a terrific performance, it is a little bit of history," Bayern forward Arjen Robben said. "If we perform like this, against a team who have dominated Europe for the past five years, who have so much quality, it is amazing."
After the visitors had toyed with Barcelona in the first half, Robben finally opened the scoring in the 49th minute before Barcelona's Gerard Pique added an own goal in the 72nd. Thomas Mueller headed in Bayern's third goal just four minutes later, as Barcelona slumped to its first home loss in European competition since 2009.
Four-time winner Bayern will face Dortmund in the final on May 25 at Wembley Stadium.
Besides Messi, Barcelona was also without four other first-choice players. But the glaring truth is that even with several Spanish internationals on the pitch Bayern, was once again the better side.
"In the first half, we really tried but when they scored the first we were left feeling down. We have to congratulate Bayern who were superior," Pique said.
"The fact that Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, did not play was a factor, but I do not think his participation tonight would have changed things all that much."
Barca's second stinging defeat to the newly-crowned German champion will surely open a period of reflection in the club, despite being on course to win the Spanish league title.
The Catalan side has been seriously outclassed for the first time since a trophy-laden era started in 2008 under the guidance of former coach Pep Guardiola, who will take over as Bayern coach next season.
"When the draw came out and we were paired with Barcelona, I would never have imagined that we would win 4-0 and then 3-0 at the Camp Nou," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said.
"Barcelona is a fantastic team. Today it had personnel problems, when Messi plays it is very different. However, we played a game at a very high level for 90 minutes."
With its all-time leading scorer out after he aggravated a right hamstring injury, Barcelona failed to seriously threaten Bayern's goal, much less make an epic comeback after its 0-4 first-leg defeat.
Bayern, meanwhile, humbled a team that has been the envy of European football for a second time in only nine days.
"I think it is a terrific performance, it is a little bit of history," Bayern forward Arjen Robben said. "If we perform like this, against a team who have dominated Europe for the past five years, who have so much quality, it is amazing."
After the visitors had toyed with Barcelona in the first half, Robben finally opened the scoring in the 49th minute before Barcelona's Gerard Pique added an own goal in the 72nd. Thomas Mueller headed in Bayern's third goal just four minutes later, as Barcelona slumped to its first home loss in European competition since 2009.
Four-time winner Bayern will face Dortmund in the final on May 25 at Wembley Stadium.
Besides Messi, Barcelona was also without four other first-choice players. But the glaring truth is that even with several Spanish internationals on the pitch Bayern, was once again the better side.
"In the first half, we really tried but when they scored the first we were left feeling down. We have to congratulate Bayern who were superior," Pique said.
"The fact that Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, did not play was a factor, but I do not think his participation tonight would have changed things all that much."
Barca's second stinging defeat to the newly-crowned German champion will surely open a period of reflection in the club, despite being on course to win the Spanish league title.
The Catalan side has been seriously outclassed for the first time since a trophy-laden era started in 2008 under the guidance of former coach Pep Guardiola, who will take over as Bayern coach next season.
"When the draw came out and we were paired with Barcelona, I would never have imagined that we would win 4-0 and then 3-0 at the Camp Nou," Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes said.
"Barcelona is a fantastic team. Today it had personnel problems, when Messi plays it is very different. However, we played a game at a very high level for 90 minutes."
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