Bayern Munich mortified Barcelona on Friday evening, developing 8-2 victors in Lisbon to make sure about their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League.
An electric beginning to the game saw the two groups score in the initial seven minutes, however it was soon single direction activity as Bayern raged to a 4-1 half-time lead before pushing on in the second half as a disgraceful Barcelona crumbled.
While Barca’s objectives originated from Luis Suarez and Bayern’s David Alaba, the German club saw Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho strike twice each as partners Robert Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich and Ivan Perisic additionally got.
Here are five things we gained from the quarter-last:
What we expected… to an extent
Many anticipated a Bayern destruction of Barca in Lisbon, and that is in reality what we got. Actually, it was significantly more far reaching of a scoreline than could have been envisioned.
The German side were heartless going ahead as they went after an accommodating, weak Barcelona group.
In any case, while the outcome indicated Bayern’s splendor, the game itself uncovered more. For the entirety of their assaulting ability, the Bundesliga champions’ guarded flaws were uncovered with pretty much every Barca cross and long pass that subverted the Bavarian outfit’s high line. Bayern have more family at this level than some other side left in the opposition and they could outscore any of the rest of the groups, however in an hour and a half game they are there to be got at.
Regardless of whether it’s Manchester City, Lyon, PSG or RB Leipzig, whoever Bayern face before this competition is done will accept they have an authentic possibility of beating Flick’s side – and that is stating something, given the German side got multiple times on Friday. Since the thing is, as phenomenal as Munich seem to be, they won’t face a group as discouraged or dumbfounded as Barca in the following round or two.
Muller proves doubters wrong again
There is an inelegance to Thomas Muller’s play that is very beguiling, yet it has additionally demonstrated the motivation behind why a few fans have neglected to get a handle on the quality and proficiency in his boots.
The slender German’s off-kilter bounce to control the ball in front of his opener was practically silly, yet it gave a false representation of the specialized capacity that was to follow as Muller’s flick to Robert Lewandowski went before a brilliant, ensured finish. At that point for his second, the striker flaunted his unmatched poaching senses to advance beyond Lenglet and jab home a cross.
Muller was criminally underestimated by past Bayern mentor Niko Kovac, yet he has demonstrated his huge worth since being reintroduced into the crease by Hansi Flick.
At only 30 years of age, and with a style that did not depend on speed, Muller has a lot of legs left in him. A lot of lanky, deceiving legs.
This is even more an overall remark than one explicit to this game, for while Lionel Messi was let somewhere near his partners against Bayern, it’s not as though he himself was at his stunning best.
Yet, when one glances at Barcelona this season, and in reality at their state on and off the contribute late years, they have without a doubt done their best ever player – this current age’s best player – an astounding insult.
Consistently there are mutterings of the Argentine leaving the Catalan club, yet they generally appear to be whimsical, unwarranted. Presently, notwithstanding, it may very well be the ideal opportunity for Messi to proceed onward.
Indeed, there is a sentiment in his destiny being attached to Barcelona, and at 33 years of age, is there much point in him moving? Maybe not, however observing the forward in a new domain for another test would be invited, and most likely regarded.
Setien’s time is nearly up
Actually, it may as of now be up. Quique Setien’s inaction as Barca imploded in the primary half didn’t just neglect to impart certainty, it was apprehensive.
The Barcelona director appeared to have less thoughts than his players on the most proficient method to get a traction in the apparatus, thus he remained on the sideline to a great extent peacefully, releasing things from awful to more terrible.
Antoine Griezmann’s appearance instead of Sergi Roberto at half-time denoted the principal change of the game, however there should as of now have been various replacements in the opening 45 minutes.
Setien has appeared to be out of his profundity since his arrangement in January, and envisioning the Spaniard seeing out his agreement – which runs until June 2022 – is a harder errand than Barca had in the wake of going 4-1 down quickly.
Single-leg ties could be the future
Double-legged ties are havens for tactical dynamism, and it could be argued that a one-off game is harmful to the likes of Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid side – as their defeat by RB Leipzig suggested – but there has been something thrilling about these single-legged quarter-finals.
The structure of the tie has forced teams to strive for the win from the opening whistle, and we’ve seen some electric action as a result.
While there were dramatic finishes in Leipzig vs Atletico and Atalanta vs PSG, on Friday night the chaos came in the opening moments as both Bayern and Barca struck within the first seven minutes.
The excitement of these single-legged quarter-finals has surely been enough to warrant at least some consideration of keeping them around in the future.
Twofold legged ties are safe houses for strategic dynamism, and it could be contended that an irregular game is hurtful to any semblance of Diego Simeone and his Atletico Madrid side – as their annihilation by RB Leipzig proposed – yet there has been something exciting about these single-legged quarter-finals.
The structure of the tie has constrained groups to take a stab at the success from the initial whistle, and we’ve considered some to be activity accordingly.
While there were emotional completions in Leipzig versus Atletico and Atalanta versus PSG, on Friday night the disorder came in the initial minutes as both Bayern and Barca struck inside the initial seven minutes.
The energy of these single-legged quarter-finals has without a doubt been sufficient to warrant probably some thought of keeping them around later on.
