Outplayed in munich!
25 April 2013 1:12 AM GMT
Bayern Munich are on the verge of their third Champions League final in four years after routing Barcelona 4-0 in Tuesday’s semifinal, first leg at the Allianz Arena.
It was the Spanish giants’ worst Champions League defeat since the 4-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev in the group stage in 1997. Germany star Thomas Mueller was Barca’s chief tormentor with a goal in each half while striker Mario Gomez and Dutch winger Arjen Robben also netted to give Bayern a huge advantage for the return leg at the Camp Nou on May 1.
Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi started, despite struggling with a hamstring injury since the start of the month, but the World Player of the Year was a shadow of his usual self. Bayern had an early penalty appeal turned down, but the hosts went ahead when Robben’s lobbed cross from a corner was headed across goal by centre-back Dante for Mueller to place his header inside the far post on 24 minutes.
Dante came to his side’s rescue at the other end five minutes later to get a toe to a Pedro Rodriguez cross from the right that was heading straight for Messi at the back post.
And Bayern doubled their lead in the 49th minute as Gomez struck with his sixth goal in his last three games. Dutchman Robben, who had been a constant menace to the Barca defence, grabbed the third on 73 minutes before Mueller completed the rout in the 85th minute.
It was the Spanish giants’ worst Champions League defeat since the 4-0 loss to Dynamo Kiev in the group stage in 1997. Germany star Thomas Mueller was Barca’s chief tormentor with a goal in each half while striker Mario Gomez and Dutch winger Arjen Robben also netted to give Bayern a huge advantage for the return leg at the Camp Nou on May 1.
Barcelona’s Argentine superstar Lionel Messi started, despite struggling with a hamstring injury since the start of the month, but the World Player of the Year was a shadow of his usual self. Bayern had an early penalty appeal turned down, but the hosts went ahead when Robben’s lobbed cross from a corner was headed across goal by centre-back Dante for Mueller to place his header inside the far post on 24 minutes.
Dante came to his side’s rescue at the other end five minutes later to get a toe to a Pedro Rodriguez cross from the right that was heading straight for Messi at the back post.
And Bayern doubled their lead in the 49th minute as Gomez struck with his sixth goal in his last three games. Dutchman Robben, who had been a constant menace to the Barca defence, grabbed the third on 73 minutes before Mueller completed the rout in the 85th minute.
Next Story
