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29 March 2024

Champions League SF: Bayern stun Barca 4-0

Published
By Staff with Agencies

Bayern Munich's incredible season continued when they handed Barcelona one of their heaviest defeats for years, hammering the Catalans 4-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal on Tuesday.

Thomas Mueller headed the recently-crowned Bundesliga champions ahead in the 25th minute and Mario Gomez turned in the second goal amid suspicions of offside early in the second half.

Arjen Robben added a third in the 73rd minute and Mueller then grabbed his second of the night as Barca collapsed dramatically in a game where Lionel Messi, returning from a hamstring injury, made little impact.

In doing so, Bayern avenged their defeat by the same score in the quarter-finals four years ago.

Robben nearly put Bayern ahead in the third minute after a clever backheel by Javi Martinez gave him a clear scoring chance but he shot straight at keeper Victor Valdes.

Barca then put together some intricate passing moves although they rarely threatened to score and Bayern had the next chance when a goal-bound Philipp Lahm shot was blocked by defender Gerard Pique.

Pique also appeared to handle when he cleared the resulting corner but the referee was not interested.

It was not long before Bayern, who won the Bundesliga with six games to spare, went ahead with the help of an overhit corner by Franck Ribery.

His effort found Robben on the other side of the penalty area and a rare right-footed cross from the Dutchman found Dante whose header fell for Mueller to stoop and score.

Barca's most dangerous first-half effort was a low Pedro cross which Dante was lucky not to turn into his own net.

Bayern extended their lead from another corner as Mueller at the back post headed back into the middle for Gomez to turn the ball in at close range after 49 minutes although he may have been fractionally offside.

The Germans threatened another as shots from Mueller and Ribery flashed wide and then Robben headed wide from a free kick.

Barca, often reduced to long balls forward, managed to impose some of their possession football but were vulnerable on the break.

Robben exploited the gaps when he burst down the right for the third and, with Barca still reeling, Mueller blasted a David Alaba pass into the net for the fourth goal.

The rout equalled Barca's worst ever defeat in European competition.

FULL TIME

Bayern Munich 4        Barcelona 0

Thomas Müller 25'

Mario Gómez 49'

Arjen Robben 73'
 
Thomas Müller 82'

YELLOW CARDS

Bayern Munich 3       Barcelona 4

90" In the added 3 minutes the referee is kept on the toes but at the end of game it's Bayern who emerge on top with a convincing win over the Spanish giants.

89" Barcelona are clearly beaten in the defence by a determined Bayern and surge on as the clock ticks.

83" Quick substitutions by both teams.Muller and Gomez replaced by Luiz Gustavo and Pizarro while Barca replaces Pedro with Villa.

81" GOAL! for Muller. Alaba slices the ball in the front of the post with Muller making contact to tap the ball safely into the net.

76" Bartra misses to slot in a Xavi freekick taken from the edge of the box. The floater landed promptly in front of the post but a slight delay and a mistimed shot over the bar fade Barca's hope.

73" GOAL! Robben beats Alba in the defence with Muller blocking the threat. Alba makes no mistake to slice in the ball into the corner of the net.

69" Bartra misses to slot in a desperate show of strength near the post.

67" Bayern get ready for their substitution as Xavi and Messi work their way down Bayern defence.

65" Messi is trying to get involved as far as possible but it's obvious his magic has not worked as yet.

61" Lahm gets back to tackle Iniesta and Bayern win the throw .  Robben runs into space, but his through ball for Franck Ribery is over-hit.

60" Alves and Bartra torment Dante and Boateng but the ball fails to cross the last line of the Bayern defence.

58" Barca attempt to break the German wall with Sanchez making a quick pass to Busquets a first time cross again to  Alves but fails to keep the ball.

55" It's fantastic to watch Bayern deal with Barcelona. Robben cuts inside before offloading the ball to Ribery, whose left-foot shot flies wide of the far post.

49" GOAL! Mario Gomez scores off a Robben corner neatly tapped by Muller to Gomez in front of Valdes who again is beaten hands down by the aggressive Germans.

46" YELLOW card for Martinez. Inesta the victim this time .

HALF TIME  1-0

45" Barcelona fight strongly as the clocks races towards the half time mark,but Bayern looked pleased at the blow of the whistle with their slender lead intact.

44" Barcelona get a corner, and look to take the gloss off with Xavi sending a flighted shot which is well put away by the Bayern defence.

43" The ball is restricted to the midfield with both teams getting a fair share of the ball.

41" Barca desperate for the equaliser and push on but the Germans look determined to defend their slim lead.

39" YELLOW card for Bartra. Muller is brought down from behind while attempting to tame a lofted shot.

36" YELLOW card! Gomez is involved in a ugly tackle on Messi and this time referee Viktor Kassai immediately flashes the yellow.

33" Both teams fight for ball possesion with Bayern winning the ball,Gomez Muller and Ribery make a dash towards the Spanish end.

28" Barcelona misses a equaliser with Busquets setting up Messi in front of the goal but fails to get a touch.

25" GOAL! Muller does it for Bayern beating Victor Valdes completely heading in the ball off a Dante header in the goalmouth.

21" This is a tighter game than  expected. The Germans are playing on the counter and we're still awaiting our first real chance

20" Pedro to Alba but Schweinsteiger wins the ball and taps it to Gomez who darts towards the rival end with Messi stopping the assault well in time.

18" Lahm appeal for a penalty after his shot hit Pique but eeferee Viktor Kassai from Hungary remained unmoved.

16" Messi, Alexis Sanchez make quick passes but is challenged strongly by the Germans.

13" Pique fumbles and a hand ball awarded in favour of Bayern. Lahm, Dante, Boateng on top of the ball now dart towards the Spanish end

12" Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets do the fast forward pass making progress towards the danger zone.

9" Bayern win the ball with Schweinsteiger and Ribery moving the ball around.

6" Corner for Barca taken by Xavi sending the ball curling to Gerard Piqué who misses the target.

4" Javi Martinez plays Arjen Robben in with a beautiful backheel but well saved by Víctor Valdes.
 
2" Bastian Schweinsteiger has a ugly tackle against Xavi games proceeds.
 
1" Bayern kick-off but Barca win the ball early on.

BUILD UP

The two European giants Bayern and Barca collide in UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at the Allianz Arena.

PLAYING XI

Bayern Munich

Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Schweinsteiger, Martinez; Robben, Muller, Ribery; Gomez.

Substitutes: Starke, Van Buyten, Shaqiri, Rafinha, Pizarro, Luiz Gustavo, Tymoshchuk.

Barcelona

Valdes; Alves, Bartra, Pique, Alba; Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets; Alexis Sanchez, Pedro, Messi.

Substitutes: Pinto, Fabregas, Villa, Thiago, Montoya, Abidal, Song.

Bayern Munich        Barcelona
4-2-3-1                      4-3-3

Team News

Bayern Munich


Mario Mandzukic picked up yellow cards in each of the two legs against Juventus in the last round of the competition and is therefore suspended for the visit of Barcelona.

Mario Gomez is likely to be his replacement.

Toni Kroos and Holger Badstuber remain absent through injury and will miss out.

Schweinsteiger, Lahm, Dante and Javi Martinez will return fresh to face Barcelona.

Barcelona


Lionel Messi has been training in the past few days and is almost certain to return here. Messi came off the bench in the second leg of the last round to inspire their all important equaliser.

With Puyol and Mascherano out through injury and Adriano suspended, youngster Marc Bartra will play at the back alongside Gerard Pique.

David Villa and Pedro should start on the wings while Alexis Sanchez will also be pushing for a place.

PREVIEW

Barcelona’s prolific striker Lionel Messi, who has been struggling with a hamstring strain, is most likely to face Bayern Munich today .

"I wouldn't like to venture a definitive answer, but in these last few days, the injury has evolved well and we have a good sensation," interim coach Jordi Roura informed the media.

"But we will wait and see what happens in training.

"We have won important games without him but it will be important to have him in the team," added Roura, standing in for Tito Vilanova who is recovering from cancer treatment.

Captain Philipp Lahm insisted that Bayern Munich will not choke again in the Champions League at the Allianz Arena as they prepare for today’s semifinal, first-leg at home against Barcelona.

The pain of last May's Champions League final defeat in Munich on penalties to Chelsea clearly still smarts. "Cruel," replied Lahm when asked for one word to sum up the moment Chelsea's Didier Drogba slotted home the winning spot-kick.