Two comprehensive thrashings of the Spanish Big Two left Europe stunned. The two results I'm referring to- Bayern's ruthless torture of Barcelona and Dortmund's rather surprising big win over Real Madrid- sent shock waves around Europe and the question was immediately asked. Was Barca's era over?
No. Can we move on now, please?
And why do I argue so? It is because that Bayern are easily the best team we have seen in the Champions League this season. The way they brushed aside Juventus in the quarters should've given people a clue, and if not that, how about their frankly amazing league record, almost 20 points ahead of the nearest challengers Borussia Dortmund? You could also use the evidence that Bayern, barring a remarkable scoreline in Camp Nou, will soon be in their 3rd final in four years. Man United did that, from 2008-2011. Barca haven't done so thus far. The point here is although the scoreline was embarrassing for the Catalans it has to be viewed as an anomaly, as Barca have never lost quite like that before, and when you think about their domestic displays this season, it was totally out of character. Mind you, Barca did play Marc Bartra at centre back. A less skilled player to reach the Champions League semi finals hasn't been seen since... well last year really. How Jose Bosingwa ever got into that team... but I digress. Bayern are awesome and their win was fully deserved, but Barca will be back, no question about that.
But anyway, to the match. First of all Bayern were considered favourites for their home leg at least, although the general opinion was that Barca would probably sneak through. They do have Messi, after all. But from where I was sitting, little Lionel (and boy, did Bayern's tough defending make him look small) could barely run. Clearly unfit, Barca were probably banking on his mere presence helping them towards victory. In Spain, a new verb has been coined to describe Barca's relationship with their star man- Messidependencia. Certainly in the second half, when Bayern really turned it on, it was as if subconsciously Barcelona were willing Messi to just take the ball and relieve some pressure with his magic. Without his considerable talents Barca were average, and the home side took full advantage, with devastating results. This was Barca's worst defeat in Europe since 1997, and no team has lost the first leg of a European Cup match by four or more goals and progressed to the next round.
Of course the media, as is its wont, focused on Pep Guardiola. What he had to do with it I wasn't sure. Didn't stop ITV from mentioning him about 50 times over the course of the programme though. What I saw though, was a performance from Bayern that was totally at odds with Guardiola's philosophy of playing the game. The brilliant counter attacking weapons of Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben would be wasted if forced to play possession based tika-taka football. As can be seen in last years final, although Bayern are perfectly comfortable being the better team and playing deep in the opponents half, the pace and dribbling skills of the two widemen were somewhat wasted. Back then Robben seemed to be on a one man mission to beat Chelsea and it was borderline ridiculous how many times Robben cut in from the right and blasted way over the crossbar. Not to mention the Dutchman's penalty miss in extra time.
But the ex Chelsea and Real flier has been humbled since then- being left on the bench many times this season by Jupp Heynckes. But he was deployed to full effect against Barca, even tracking back on occasions. Yes, Robben tracked back. Heynckes must have put something in his half time Lucozade.
In the first half Bayern did score through Thomas Muller, who is probably most famous in England for mullering (sorry) our finest in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Indeed, it was as if Clive and the rest of the 'experts' on ITV weren't aware he basically scores in every single big match Bayern play. Like last year against Chelsea for example. Anyway, with Muller acting in the second striker role, Bayern were as dynamic as any team can be, and he scored after a well worked corner. Having such a flexible and versatile all rounder in your squad must be a dream- not that it was all Muller's way though. Sergio Busquets marked him out of the rest of the half as Barca re grouped well initially. Xavi and Iniesta, as per usual, stood out for the Catalans with their touch and movement. But they weren't getting the luck. They probably should have had a penalty when Pedro was pushed over, Dante just got a toe on a cross that was destined for Messi, and an Iniesta cross fell inches away from Alexis Sanchez's forehead with Manuel Neuer totally out of position. But after half time Barca weren't recognisable as a unit, all fight and energy had seemingly disappeared.
Barca had already been beaten by Celtic and AC Milan so maybe it wasn't such a shock that they failed to contain the Bavarians when they stepped up a gear in the second half. Robben was in superb form as he tore into Jordi Alba with frightening regularity and Schweinsteiger controlled the game with his great use of the long crossfield ball to get Ribery and Robben away in space. The second goal came from such a tactic, where Robben forced a corner, and whipped it in himself, and Muller headed down for Mario Gomez to tap in. Sure Barca are a short side, but their ariel ability is not often questioned. For such a team to just give away goals from set pieces is criminal.
Bayern really turned the screw as Muller hit wide after collecting a pass from Jerome Boateng and then Ribery scuffed his effort after Robben ran at the Barca defence. The backline couldn't deal with the Dutchman and he inevitably scored a third after great footwork in the penalty area, helped by a rather robust 'challenge' by Muller preventing Alba from pressing Robben.
Bartra wasted his team's best opening when striking way too high over the bar from six yards and Bayern scored a fourth, a brilliant team goal, with sub Gustavo winning the ball, playing a one-two with the excellent Javi Martinez, Schweinsteiger assuming control of the ball and then moving it on to Ribery, who attacked Dani Alves before crossing low for Muller to finish the match and the tie with a poachers goal. Bayern have proven their class and were rampant. Even the great Barcelona can't come back from this- and this crushing result was achieved without Germany internationals Badstuber and Toni Kroos.
But anyway, onto the Dortmund game. Now I thought Madrid would go through and I wasn't too impressed that Dortmund needed so much luck in the previous round against Malaga. But right from kick off Jurgen Klopp sent out his team to attack. The young manager who has received such high praise this season from European media outlets this season tactically outfought the celebrated coaching talents of Jose Mourinho as Borussia Dortmund dominated the whole game.
Of course it helped that Robert Lewandowski had the game of his life. Four goals against Real Madrid in a Champions League semi-final is a pretty decent return. There wasn't a single Dortmund player who had a poor game, unlike Real, who were lacklustre throughout. The game ignited from the off as Marco Reus, who was a constant thorn in the Real Madrid side, took on the visiting defence but his shot was saved by Diego Lopez, with Lewandowski failing to tuck in the rebound.
Soon after, Mario Gotze found some space on the left and picked out Lewandowski at the back post, and his crashing volley put the Germans one nil up. It was interesting to see the reaction of the Dortmund fans towards their young playmaker, understandably many were angry at Gotze for his 'betrayal' announced on Monday, but during the match the fans put aside their feelings and supported their team. Certainly some of the Real players seemed intimidated by the atmosphere, none more so than Luka Modric, surprisingly chosen ahead of Angel Di Maria by Mourinho. Modric barely got a kick all game and was made to look weak and tiny compared to Dortmund's aggressive captain Blaszczykowski who flew into tackles and gave Mesut Ozil no space in the middle of the park.
But when Dortmund had the ball, they were fantastic. Sven Bender was neat and tidy in possession but his partner Ilkay Gundogan had a dream of a game. Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso never got near him as his passing and technical ability was far better than his opponents. Gundogan's energy and elusive dribbling skills allowed him to find space all night and then look for Reus and Gotze in great attacking positions. Gundogan was superb and is clearly one of the best young players in the world in his position.
Madrid were being bullied, limited to a couple of Cristiano Ronaldo strikes from long range. But they did get a crucial away goal in the 43rd minute, thanks to a dreadful error from Mats Hummels, whose back pass went straight to Higuain, who drew the keeper out before squaring the ball to Ronaldo for a tap in.
But after the break Dortmund renewed their pledge to attack the Spanish champions. Lewandowski controlled a Reus drive before stroking the ball past Diego Lopez to give his side the lead once again. Mourinho looked glum, but before he could attempt to shake Real into life Lewandowski completed a hat-trick with a quite brilliant finish. The left back Marcel Schmelzer hit a shot that was heading wide, but the Pole up front controlled it expertly, dragged the ball back gaining a yard of space, before lashing the ball into the top corner. The fans went crazy. Lewandowski then completed his haul for the night, converting a penalty with aplomb. The Dortmund faithful were delighted, and it was a fully deserved rout.
The aftermath saw the media take stock and realise just what had been achieved. There was lots of coverage given to the fact that Robert Lewandowski became the first player to score a hat-trick against Real Madrid in Champions League history. He also became the first man to score four in a Champions League semi-final. But what for the Spanish sides? I reckon Barca can invoke more factors for failure- Tito ill, Busquets injured, Xavi and Messi tired, but Mourinho has to look at himself. Real should have won and that can be shown just by simply pointing out that while Dortmund's first XI cost just £29m to assemble, Real's cost £345m to bring together. Gotze, Reus and Lewandowski cost just twenty one and a half million pounds to get.
So what does this mean for Spanish football as a whole? Despite the scorelines, not much. This will signal the end for Mourinho at Real, but both members of the Spanish big two are going to spend big in the summer, whereas Dortmund, already losing Gotze, will have a fight on to keep their star men. Make no mistake though, the Champions League final at Wembley will be populated by the two German teams after two frankly incredible performances.
Thanks for reading, Adam.
