Bayern Munich smashed into their third Champions League final by a 3-0 win over Barcelona at the CampNou on Wednesday. They scored an incredible 7-0 aggregate semi-final victory.
The absence of Lionel Messi from the Barcelona starting line-up almost eliminated any optimism of an unlikely return before the game had even commenced. Bayern exhibited their 4-0 first-leg victory last week had been no coincidence with a display of powerful dominance.
Arjen Robben started the scoring for the visitors with a trademark left-foot shot just after half-time before a Gerard Pique own-goal. Thomas Mueller's header in the final 20 minutes guaranteed Bayern to reserve their place in an all-German final against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on 25th May. Later on, Pique admitted that it was one of the most difficult nights he has encountered in his five years at the club. He announced to the media that perhaps it was the bitterest night he had at Barcelona. They attempted but the rivals scored a goal very early in the second half which left them broken. The final 25 minutes were very intricate.
Meanwhile for Robben it was a free joy as he targets to make amends at Wembley for missing a penalty that could have pushed Bayern to victory on home soil against Chelsea at the previous season. He exclaimed that it is history with 4-0 at home and 3-0 here. They are supposed to be proud of that and enjoy it. Currently they have to win this thing. They have so much quality in the team that they can win games like these, in this mode.
Barca was suffering from the injury of Sergio Busquets and suspension of Jordi Alba. Another severe blow came to the team when Lionel Messi who was suffering from hamstring injury in the first leg of their quarter-final tie against Paris Saint-Germain was compelled to start on the bench. After loosing their talisman, Barca began tentatively and only a distressed sliding challenge from Pique barred Robben from striking a clear shot on goal after he galloped clearly the left on 11 minutes. Seven minutes later, Pique had to be alert again as he again slid in to ignore Philipp Lahm at the end of a superb Bayern move.
At the end, Pedro pushed Manuel Neuer into a save on 23 minutes with a long-range shot that the German number one turned round the post. Xavi then awarded the hosts' best opportunity of the first period as he clasped over on the volley after Cesc Fabregas had chested the ball down inside the area. However, Barca were still suffering from drawbacks with a number of uncharacteristically long shots failing to find their target while another weak effort from a distance by Adriano which was the only other effort they managed on goal prior to the break.
It hardly took three minutes after the restart for Bayern to entirely erase out any remaining doubts they would be traveling to London for the final when Robben gathered a raking crossfield pass from David Alaba, cut inside Adriano onto his left foot and buried a grinding drive past Victor Valdes into the far corner. Robben was supposed to have second moments later as another brisk Bayern break caught Barca outnumbered at the back. However this time the former Real Madrid player couldn't acquire the Franck Ribery's cross and the ball dribbled wide.
In the meantime, further sting was inflicted upon the hosts 18 minutes from time when a magnificent pass from Luis Gustavo played in Ribery down the left and his cross was cut into his own net by Pique. After four minutes, they scored 3-0 on the night as more fierce play from Ribery saw him flash past Alex Song and strike a lovely ball to the far post for Mueller to advance home his third goal of the tie.
