Mitchell Gunn – USA TODAY Sports
Barcelona suffered a thumping in their Champions League semi-final, as Bayern Munich won by a 7-0 aggregate score to reach an all German final at Wembley later this month.
It was the greatest European aggregate defeat Barcelona have suffered in their history as it seems their incredible era of success and European domination has now ended, or at least been halted. Without Pep Guardiola they have looked like a different side when up against the true threats. There is a lack in variety tactically whilst the pressure off the ball and desire to win it back that we had become accustomed to seeing is now a memory. It is not necessarily the definitive end of this Barcelona era, but they’ll need to adapt if they want to return to their modern heights.
Questions will surely be fired at Tito Vilanova as to why Lionel Messi was placed on the bench and not brought into play at any point, even when a sheer miracle was required. More puzzling is that Messi played in La Liga over the weekend where he scored and got an assist. It would surely be a better idea to have rested him at the weekend and played him against Bayern Munich as the La Liga title is all but wrapped up.
But as one era seems to end, another is now in full motion. After reaching the Champions League final last season, we all knew that Bayern Munich were a major force. But they have gone even further now by looking like one of the most powerful and defensively solid sides seen in recent years. Jupp Heynckes, who perhaps doesn’t get the recognition he deserves, has created a complete team with a formidable amount of depth and threat which has resulted in a 20 point gap to win the Bundesliga title and now their second European final in as many years. Few teams go to the Nou Camp, what ever Barcelona’s form, and come out as victors. But Bayern completely dominated home and away, and they really do look like the complete package.
London will now be taken over by ‘the old enemy’, as the all German final between Bayern and Borussia Dortmund awaits. It is set up to be a classic, with arguably the two most exciting and impressive clubs in the tournament this year going head to head on the biggest stage. The impeccable defensive records this season argue that a cagey affair may be on the cards, but let’s hope that instead we witness a well fought but breathless contest.
Stowe Gregory is an English featured Soccer and Sports writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him or tweet on Twitter @stowegregory. Or add to circles on Google +
You can read about his piece on ‘The appeal of Borrussia Dortmund’ here.
