Bayern Munich are at the edge of their third Champions League final in four years after routing Barcelona to 4-0 goals in semifinal, first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. This was the Spanish giants' worst Champions League squash since the 4-0 defeat against Dynamo Kiev in the group stage in 1997.
Germany football star Thomas Mueller was Barca's chief attacker with a goal in each half while striker Mario Gomez and Dutch winger Arjen Robben also made through the net to give Bayern a huge advantage for the return leg at the Camp Nou on 1st May.
Barcelona assistant coach Jordi Roura admitted that his team would need a sheer miracle to reach their third Champions League final since 2009. He revealed that miracles are always difficult to make real as 4-0 is a huge deficit to compensate. He is not sure whether anyone has come back from such a score in the history of the Champions League or not. But they will do what they can. Barcelona defender Gerard Pique admitted that this is a big defeat for them which hurt them a lot. The rivals thrashed them. It is impossible, but they have to show their face in the return leg.
In contrast, Bayern, who are claiming to become the first German team to win a treble of European and domestic league and cup titles are enthusiastic. Robben exclaimed that, that is crazy, hard to believe. He added that the rivals have dominated Europe in the last few years and then they go and win by 4-0. The secret was that, they fought and defended collectively. However, the Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes warned that the job is only half done. It is natural that they are happy about the victory especially the goal difference. He assured that they are first-class but, they are also aware that they still have 90 minutes ahead of them inSpain. They wish to enjoy tonight, but nothing more.
It was an exceptional day for Bayern! They got off to a remarkable start when it was proclaimed that they had signed young German star Mario Goetze from arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund for a whopping 37 million euros.
Subsequently, it was reported in March that, club president Uli Hoeness was caught up in a tax evasion scandal. He was arrested and later released on bail after a police raid on his home. Amazingly, he was present at the Allianz Arena to view an incredible match. Barcelona's Argentine superstar Lionel Messi participated after surviving a hamstring injury since the start of the month. But the World Player of the Year could not live up to the expectation.
Previously, Bayern had a penalty appeal turned down. But the hosts advanced when Robben’s lobbed cross from a corner were headed across goal by centre-back Dante for Mueller to place his header inside the far post in 24 minutes. Five minutes later, Dante came to his side's rescue at the other end to get a toe to a Pedro Rodriguez cross from the right that was heading right away for Messi at the back post. To be precise, Bayern doubled their lead in the 49th minute as Gomez shot with his sixth goal in his last three games. Eventually, the Barcelona defence failed to handle the corner as Robben's ball from the right was jiggled down by Mueller for Gomez to torrent home in 49 minutes.
Dutchman Robben, who proved to be a constant threat to the Barca defence, hauled the third in 73 minutes. He skipped past Jordi Alba on the right before sneaking his shot past Victor Valdes from a tight angle. At that moment, the Barcelona players were irate and protested to the referee as Alba was body-checked by Mueller as he pursued Robben inside the box. Later on, Pique admitted that the referee didn't have any influence. They were simply speedy, sturdy, better.
Bayern grasped the fourth in 82 minutes while the Barcelona defence waned away. Meanwhile, Franck Ribery and David Alaba came together on the left for the latter to whip in a low ball which Mueller sneaked into the net for his second. In spite of the advantage, Bayern know how tough life could be at the Camp Nou, having lost by 4-0 on their last Champions League visit to Barcelona in the 2009 quarterfinal first leg. They lost by 5-1 on aggregate.
