A mesmerizing performance by Lionel Messi has put Bayern on the verge of another semifinal exit, as the Catalans won 3-0 at the Camp Nou. Manuel Neuer kept Barcelona at bay till the 77th minute before Messi decided to take matters in his own hands. Pep Guardiola was visibly furious with his team’s performance and it will be a herculean task to overcome a three-goal deficit in the second-leg, even if it’s at the Allianz Arena.
Photo: Reuters/Paul Hanna
Bayern began the game with three centre-backs – Rafinha, Benatia, Boateng – but the trio couldn’t cope with the threat of MSN and reverted to a 4-man defence as Barcelona were attacking ferociously. Neuer denied Suarez in the 11th minute with a brilliant save with his outstretched right-leg. Messi was at his best, prancing past opposition defenders and Bayern were unable to pack a punch at the other end of the pitch and were sorely missing the likes of Robben and Ribery. Lewandowski fluffed a glorious chance to shock the Camp Nou, when Muller held off Pique and Jordi Alba to put in a ball low and hard across the face Barcelona’s goal but the Pole failed to make proper contact as the ball went agonizingly wide past the post. Messi’s free-kick from 30 yards was nonchalantly scooped by Neuer, who seemed determined to not concede a goal. Iniesta’s gorgeous lob over the Bayern defence was chested by Dani Alves but his scrambling effort was saved yet again by Neuer’s outstretched foot. Bayern were all over the place and hadn’t it been for some gripping goalkeeping by Neuer, Barcelona would’ve been quite a few goals up. Pep Guardiola was lambasted by the pundits at half-time for playing three centre-backs for the opening 15 minutes against the world’s deadliest attacking trio. “I think it’s stupid,” Jamie Redknapp said. “It’s footballing suicide.”
Photo: Matthias Hangst
Despite regaining the defensive solidity, Bayern failed to create any clear-cut chances on goal although Lewandowski and Muller weren’t playing badly. At the hour mark, Messi dinked in a ball to Neymar from his own half and the Brazilian had all the space to himself, leaving behind all Bayern defenders, before sweeper-keeper rushed out and cleared the ball high and wide. In the 77th minute, Barcelona finally drew first blood, when Messi drove his shot into the bottom-corner. Bernat lost possession at a crucial area and Dani Alves cut inside and played it to Messi right outside the penalty area, who fired his shot firmly past Neuer.
Photo: Reuters/Paul Hanna
A couple of minutes later, Messi doubled his side’s lead with an incredible piece of individual play. The Argentine picked up a ball from deep and from the edge of the 8-yard box, twisted across Boateng, dumping the German defender on his backside and in search of a grave, and chipped the ball over the gigantic Manuel Neuer into the corner. It was an embarrassing moment for Boateng, who also made some reprehensible mistakes in the quarterfinals against Porto, while the Camp Nou was sent into a state of delirium after they witnessed yet another moment of magic from the master. In the 90th minute, Bayern Munich, in search for that away goal, pushed men forward and after a headed clearance, Suarez picked up the ball, muscled his way past two Bayern players before he was blatantly fouled in his own half. The referee played advantage and Messi fed Neymar, who was clear on goal and this time, Neuer was helpless as Neymar slotted the ball past Neuer into the middle of the goal.
Messi tormented his former-boss and Guardiola will have to inject his side with some special concoction if Bayern are to proceed to the finals. “When Messi is in form, as now, no defensive system or coach can stop him.” Guardiola had quoted earlier, “Limiting him is different – keep close and keep the ball from him.” Quite frankly, Bayern neither stopped Messi nor limited him. Guardiola got his strategies all wrong and he was lucky his tactical fiasco of playing three centre-backs didn’t cost him. Neymar, Pique and Dani Alves all are a booking away from being suspended and Luis Enrique probably won’t risk playing them in Munich. Despite the 3-goal lead, Barcelona mustn’t be complacent. If they have any doubts regarding the matter, Luis Enrique can ask Julen Lopetegui – the Porto boss.
Tags: Barcelona Bayern Lionel Messi Pep Guardiola
