Champions League: Bayern humiliate Barca to set up an all-German Final
Bayern Munich pulled off a stunning 3-0 victory over Barcelona at the Camp Nou to complete a record Champions League semi-final 7-0 aggregate win.
Arjen Robben fired a perfect left-footed effort past Victor Valdes to make it 1-0, before an own goal from Gerard Pique and Thomas Muller's strike added insult to injury for the hosts.
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova was heavily criticized for not starting with Messi to give his team a chance of trying for what would have been a spectacular comeback, but his teammate Gerard Pique said the 25-year-old would have prevented the defeat.
"The fact Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, did not play was a factor," the Barcelona defender said. "But I do not think [he] would have changed things all that much."
With Barcelona constantly needing to take risks, Bayern had plenty of lanes to counter into. The hosts were also very impatient and gave the ball away in dangerous areas much more frequently than they used to. Only some brilliant defending by Gerard Pique, on multiple occasions, kept the Bavarians from scoring in the first half and completely ending the tie.
Barcelona's only significant chance of the first half came on a 35-yard drive from Pedro, which Manuel Neuer didn't have much trouble with. With Lionel Messi on the bench, they didn't appear to have any kind of bite, and given how well Bayern's midfield and defense played, it's unlikely that Messi would have made the difference.
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Something had to give, and it was Barcelona's slim chances when, three minutes into the second half, David Alaba switched play to Robben, who expertly cut inside and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner.
Not content with their commanding advantage, Bayern continued to counter and Pique summed up Barcelona's evening when he failed to deal with Ribery's cross from the left and shinned the ball past his own keeper Victor Valdes.
The record aggregate victory was completed when Mueller rose highest at the far post to head home another super Ribery cross.
The Bavarians' victory tees up a first-ever all-German final in Europe's premier club competition, as they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the showpiece at Wembley on May 25.
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Arjen Robben fired a perfect left-footed effort past Victor Valdes to make it 1-0, before an own goal from Gerard Pique and Thomas Muller's strike added insult to injury for the hosts.
Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova was heavily criticized for not starting with Messi to give his team a chance of trying for what would have been a spectacular comeback, but his teammate Gerard Pique said the 25-year-old would have prevented the defeat.
"The fact Lionel Messi, the best player in the world, did not play was a factor," the Barcelona defender said. "But I do not think [he] would have changed things all that much."
With Barcelona constantly needing to take risks, Bayern had plenty of lanes to counter into. The hosts were also very impatient and gave the ball away in dangerous areas much more frequently than they used to. Only some brilliant defending by Gerard Pique, on multiple occasions, kept the Bavarians from scoring in the first half and completely ending the tie.
Barcelona's only significant chance of the first half came on a 35-yard drive from Pedro, which Manuel Neuer didn't have much trouble with. With Lionel Messi on the bench, they didn't appear to have any kind of bite, and given how well Bayern's midfield and defense played, it's unlikely that Messi would have made the difference.
Buy UEFA Champions League Final 2013 tickets now!!
Something had to give, and it was Barcelona's slim chances when, three minutes into the second half, David Alaba switched play to Robben, who expertly cut inside and curled a left-footed shot into the top corner.
Not content with their commanding advantage, Bayern continued to counter and Pique summed up Barcelona's evening when he failed to deal with Ribery's cross from the left and shinned the ball past his own keeper Victor Valdes.
The record aggregate victory was completed when Mueller rose highest at the far post to head home another super Ribery cross.
The Bavarians' victory tees up a first-ever all-German final in Europe's premier club competition, as they prepare to face Borussia Dortmund in the showpiece at Wembley on May 25.
About LiveFootballTickets.com
Thousands of football tickets are on sale on Europe's biggest football ticketing website: Live Football Tickets.com. We have Spanish La Liga tickets, English Premiership tickets and Europa League tickets. Last but not least, we also have FA Cup Final tickets available.
