Barcelona were thoroughly beaten tonight by a Bayern Munich side that counter-attacked brilliantly and were incredibly well organised at the back.
Any time that Barcelona attacked they were surrounded by two or three Bayern players in key areas of the pitch, and really had no ideas on how to counter that.
As the RTE panel pointed out, they were trying to be a bit more direct tonight, but they have been using that option a bit more in La Liga this season in order to vary their play given that they were undone by a resolute Chelsea side last season.
There is a rebuilding job to be done at Barcelona, with Valdes leaving, Villa and Alexis possibly on their way and an ageing Puyol who needs to be replaced too. Grafting players into the La Masia system has proved extremely difficult in the past, so there is a real challenge for Vilanova, if he stays on.
On the other side, Pep Guardiola has some seriously big shoes to fill after this season’s performance, as it’s increasingly looking like Heynckes will walk away with a brilliant treble.
So we have an all German final to look forward to, but there will be absolutely no shortage of attacking and free flowing football.
John Giles claming that this Barcelona side “betrayed” their unique style of play by being a bit more direct this time, and ended up looking very poor. Brady disagrees.
Miguel Delaney comes up with the goods on the stats front, showing that this is not, in fact, the greatest margin of defeat in the history of the competition, but it was bloody close.
Dunphy also adds that he doesn’t want to hear any talk about humiliation of this great club, and that “we’ll see” what this Bayern Munich team does, but he highly doubts that they will reach the heights this Barcelona team did.
The RTE panel mulling over the game here as Dunphy points out that there have been signs for a while that the end has been nigh for this Barcelona team.
The final whistle sounds, Barcelona thoroughly beaten as we head for an all-German final
There will be one additional minute as the ref shows that he has a heart.
What makes this so shocking, perhaps, is that you simply don’t expect to see a gap of this magnitude between two teams at this level.
Another substitution for Barca, as Marc Bartra is replaced by Martin Montoya. Bartra actually looked a decent threat in the air from set pieces, and played well overall. Surprising that they don’t seem to trust him all that much at the Camp Nou.
That said, he does play in defence and they’re 0-3 down…
Although they’re totally on top, Bayern Munich have no intention of giving up their clean sheet, as two banks of four sit in front of Barcelona as they desperately try to get something back in this game.
A clash of heads as Van Buyten and Thiago go down, but neither of them seems to be seriously hurt.
The talk in the Spanish press since the first leg of this game has been focused on signings, and they will certainly need a much stronger defnesive unit if they hope to bounce back from this.
There has been talk of at least six players coming in, with Villa and Sanchez leaving. One of those coming in is almost certain to be Neymar, as they need to make a statement of intent after the nature of this defeat.
Bayern, as we predicted, have no intention of letting up as Barcelona’s heads completely drop.
Ribery took on both Song and Fabregas, and dinks a beautiful corss to Muller at the back post, who rises above Bartra and Adriano to head past Valdes as he tries to scramble back across his goal.
This is becoming extremely embarrassing for the home side.
GOAL BAYERN MUNICH THOMAS MULLER
Another dangerous attack from Bayern Munich as Gustavo slips in Lahm down the left hand side, who crosses in a ball which Pique had to try and put something on as he knew Mandzukic was lurking behind him to tuck it home if he didn’t.
GOAL BAYERN MUNICH GERARD PIQUE (OG)
The broadcast shows a poignant shot of Lionel Messi as he looks on from the bench, confused by his team’s attacking ineptitude in his absence. Reminiscent of the words of Futurama‘s Calculon…
The away fans now cheering every pass of the ball from their side as the home fans try to drown them out with whistles, unsuccessfully. This wouldn’t happen on a wet, windy Tuesday in Stoke etc.
Bastian Schweinsteiger taken off here, probably because he’s on a yellow, and the Brazilian Luiz Gustavo comes on
Sanchez wins the ball on the edge of the Bayern box, drills the ball across and wins a corner.
Vilanova takes that opportunity to take off Andres Iniesta and brings on Thiago Alcantara. That’s the towel being thrown in we reckon.
Make that 500/1. That’s more like it.
You can get odds of 100/1 for Barcelona to score four or more goals in what’s left of this game. They still seem pretty slim to us…
A terrible cliche, we will admit, but Bayern are superbly organised. When a Barcelona player enters their half with the ball, he’s swarmed by red shirts, at least three players normally.
When they break, they also break in numbers, and are making Barcelona look very ordinary indeed.
Xavi is withdrawn as Alexis Sanchez comes on, and Victor Valdes gets the captain’s armband. All he needs is a double hat-trick…
A terrible punt clear from Valdes comes straight to Alaba, who plays a phenomenal pass to Robben, in acres of space down the right hand side.
He cuts inside, and curls an absolute beauty past a dispairing Victor Valdes. Game, set and match, not even Lionel Messi could pull this back, as Barca need six.
GOAL BAYERN MUNICH ARJEN ROBBEN
Bayern Munich win a soft enough free down the right hand side of Barca’s box as Song fouls Schweinsteiger. Robben whips it in but Valdes comes out to claim well.
No changes to either side as far as we can make out here in JOE towers.
And the second half in underway
The standout players for the Catalans in this first half have been Pique, who looked very solid at the back, and Pedro, who was the one trying to create chances down the left.
Bayern have marshalled well, Javi Martinez has given Iniesta very little space to play in, and when they break they do look like a real threat.
However, as the half wore on, they did seem to be getting some sort of a foothold to create something, but this would be an absolute miracle if they got four goals in the second half.
Interesting stat from OptaJose, which points out how much of a similarity there is between Barca’s play in this game and their first half against PSG, also without Messi.
Both teams headed down the tunnel, with Barcelona looking very much like a side who have completely run out of ideas without Lionel Messi.
That’s not to say that that they’re a one man team by any stretch of the imagination, but they certainly haven’t performed to the level that we’ve come to expect of them, mainly because Bayern simply haven’t let them play.
The referee blows the whistle on the 45 minute mark, as Alves picks up a yellow card for a challenge on Schweinsteiger that saw both of them go to ground.
Neither of them seems to be injured, in any case.
Pedro has looked like the most potent player Barcelona have out there at the moment, but he has been well watched to ensure that he sticks to the wing and whips in crosses to no one
Only a few minutes before the half here, and Barcelona are yet to really threaten the goal. Would not be surprised if one Lionel Messi manages to make an appearance in the second half despite his injury.
Pique with another good (and strong) challenge to stop Barcelona from giving the ball away in their own half.
Ribery and Jupp Heynckes look to be exchanging some words on the sideline in an animated enough manner. Strange, as Barcelona haven’t really threatened and Bayern look much the better side.
Bayern counter quickly through Robben, who, uncharacteristically, went all on his own with Muller and Mandzukic lurking, and saw his shot blocked by Song.
Half chance for Barcelona as a ball is slipped through to Xavi down the right hand side of the box who tries to pull it across to Fabregas, but Lahm was there to make life difficult.
No clean shorts for Pique tonight, as he goes to ground to make another challenge.
The ball is whipped in from Alves, Fabregas knocks it down despite going down in the process, and Xavi shoots just over the bar. Much better play from the Catalans.
Another last ditch tackle from Pique which comes awkwardly back to Valdes, who just about manages to clear the ball. They’re walking a very thin line here…
Pedro turns and shoots well from distance, testing the reflexes of Neuer, who tips over the bar to concede a corner.
Alves’ half-cross half-shot is fully terrible as yet another Barcelona attack breaks down
Vital cut out from the Barcelona defence after Ribery and Alaba played their way superbly out of defence and launched a great counter attack, almost playing Mandzukic through.
Superb football from Bayern Munich through Robben, Lahm and Schweinsteiger carved open the defence, but a last ditch tackle from Pique saved the day.
Looked like the Germans could have had a reasonable shout for a penalty however, as there was definitely contact in the box.
Another free kick for Bayern is lofted towards Muller at the back, but Barcelona are dealing with the aerial ball a little bit better tonight.
Superb ball through from Xavi found Dani Alves in a huge amount of sapce down the right side, but he appeared to get stuck in two minds as to whether to shoot or cross.
His ball across, eventually, came to nothing.
Sustained pressure from Bayern Munich here on the home side’s goal, but Barcelona look slightly more organised at the back than they did last week.
Dealt with it and cleared their lines effectively.
Robben looked to be steaming through there, but Pique recovered and made a sliding challenge which rolled back to Valdes. Hearts in mouths for Barca fans there.
Barcelona going a bit more direct, something which they have been doing more regularly at times this season under Vilanova. May be less effective against this hugely physical Bayern Munich team than your average La Liga side though.
Accidental handball by Robben and Barcelona have a free kick which Xavi takes. Bartra gets on the end of it but sends his header way over.
Another wide-angle shot of that fantastic mosaic, that says ‘Barca! Orgull’ – ‘Barca! Pride’ (via @MessiStats)
Bayern Munich appeal for a backpass as they attack the Barcelona defence, and it did look like Dani Alves knocked it back to his keeper, Valdes, who chose to pick it up as it was going out of play.
Barcelona already under pressure in their own half with less than thirty seconds on the clock as they tried to pass the ball around, Thomas Muller just offside there.
And the game kicks off!
Fantastic mosaic at the Camp Nou before the game starts
Spanish football guru Graham Hunter has made the excellent point that Bayern Munich may well be also affected by the unexpected absence of Messi: “What kind of boost is it when you know, to your surprise, that you will not need to repel Messi?”.
The Barcelona lads displaying something they must have learned from their trip to Glasgow earlier in the competition, as they huddle together after the warm up to try and get themselves motivated. (via @101greatgoals)
Several of Bayern Munich’s players are on a yellow card here tonight, and they risk missing the final.
Phillip Lahm, Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger, all fantastic in the first leg, will have to be on their best behaviour.
Interesting to see many pointing out that the absence of Sergio Busquets through injury is also a huge blow, and we have to agree.
No coincidence that the young man already has a medal haul that would be the envy of someone ten years his senior, and his role in the side is constantly undervalued. He keeps the ball moving and makes sure their weak defence is rarely exposed.
The stadium is already filling up as the Barcelona team come out to warm up, and the fans will certainly be trying to spur their team on to a historic comeback (pic via @opinioncule)
With the scoreline so clearly in Bayern Munich’s favour, this match could be done and dusted before this leg even kicks off, however Barcelona will want to get some pride back, at the very least.
However, their defence has simply not been good enough this season in the Champions League, and with Messi on the bench, this is going to be a monumental task for the blaugrana.
Mandzukic comes in to replace Mario Gomez, and the Croat is in scintillating form, so he’ll still have the hunger needed to push on and get even more goals. There should be no question, as Ireland learned to their own peril from the national team, of the German side taking their foot off the pedal in any way, shape or form.
Here are the line ups for the two sides tonight:
Barcelona: Valdes, Alves, Piqué, Bartra, Adriano; Song, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Fabregas, Villa
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Lahm, Boateng, van Buyten, Alaba, Javi Martínez, Schweinsteiger, Robben, Müller, Ribéry, Mandzukic.
The big news right now is that Messi is not starting and will be on the bench. This is a massive blow for Barcelona, as he still hasn’t shaken off the injury he sustained against PSG a few weeks back.
Evening all, and welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of the big game in the Camp Nou, as Barcelona look to overturn a huge deficit against the German champions Bayern Munich.
If it’s half as dramatic as last night, we should be in for a cracking night of Champions League action.
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