Manuel Neuer had done his best to keep Bayern on level terms with Barcelona, but then came Lionel Messi and Neymar. The Bundesliga winners’ dream of reaching the Champions League final in Berlin is now all but over. FC Bayern München were beaten 3-0 on Pep Guardiola’s return to his former club and will need a miracle to reach the showpiece in the German capital on 6th June.
Four-time World Footballer of the Year Messi put Barcelona in command with goals in the 77th and 80th minute, but Manuel Neuer had made a string of great saves to ensure that the game was still goalless going into the final quarter of an hour. With the Munich side pushing hard for an away goal, Neymar ran in one-on-one to round off a comprehensive victory for the Catalan giants.
“Masked man” Lewandowski on board
Despite having an injury-hit squad, Bayern were able to field Robert Lewandowski against Barca, albeit with a facial mask after he broke his nose and upper jaw in the recent DFB Cup semi-final defeat to Dortmund. It became clear, however, that Guardiola’s side were desperately missing the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery as chances for the visitors were few and far between.
The hosts took the initiative and ought to have gone in front when Luis Suarez broke through one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, but the Germany no.1 spread himself well and managed to save with his foot. Neymar almost opened the scoring as well four minutes later, but Rafinha got a vital deflection on his shot to turn it behind. Bayern’s best and arguably only real chance of the game soon followed, when Thomas Müller broke down the right flank, but Lewandowski couldn’t make a solid enough contact with his pull-back towards the penalty spot.
Bayern fall apart in the closing stages
The Bavarians started to find their feet more as the half went on, but they still needed Neuer to be at his best to keep out a Dani Alves effort before the break. As in the first half, Marc-André ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal didn’t have a real save to make after the interval, as the home side’s quality ultimately shone through. Lionel Messi finally opened the scoring in the 77th minute, firing a low shot past Neuer after Juan Bernat lost possession at left back.
The Argentina international struck again only three minutes later, turning Jerome Boateng inside out before dinking the ball over the Bayern keeper. It was left to Neymar to round off the scoring, with the Brazilian running clear of a high line in the final minute of the game and easily slotting the ball past Manuel Neuer.
Manuel Neuer had done his best to keep Bayern on level terms with Barcelona, but then came Lionel Messi and Neymar. The Bundesliga winners’ dream of reaching the Champions League final in Berlin is now all but over. FC Bayern München were beaten 3-0 on Pep Guardiola’s return to his former club and will need a miracle to reach the showpiece in the German capital on 6th June.
Four-time World Footballer of the Year Messi put Barcelona in command with goals in the 77th and 80th minute, but Manuel Neuer had made a string of great saves to ensure that the game was still goalless going into the final quarter of an hour. With the Munich side pushing hard for an away goal, Neymar ran in one-on-one to round off a comprehensive victory for the Catalan giants.
“Masked man” Lewandowski on board
Despite having an injury-hit squad, Bayern were able to field Robert Lewandowski against Barca, albeit with a facial mask after he broke his nose and upper jaw in the recent DFB Cup semi-final defeat to Dortmund. It became clear, however, that Guardiola’s side were desperately missing the likes of Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery as chances for the visitors were few and far between.
The hosts took the initiative and ought to have gone in front when Luis Suarez broke through one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, but the Germany no.1 spread himself well and managed to save with his foot. Neymar almost opened the scoring as well four minutes later, but Rafinha got a vital deflection on his shot to turn it behind. Bayern’s best and arguably only real chance of the game soon followed, when Thomas Müller broke down the right flank, but Lewandowski couldn’t make a solid enough contact with his pull-back towards the penalty spot.
Bayern fall apart in the closing stages
The Bavarians started to find their feet more as the half went on, but they still needed Neuer to be at his best to keep out a Dani Alves effort before the break. As in the first half, Marc-André ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal didn’t have a real save to make after the interval, as the home side’s quality ultimately shone through. Lionel Messi finally opened the scoring in the 77th minute, firing a low shot past Neuer after Juan Bernat lost possession at left back.
The Argentina international struck again only three minutes later, turning Jerome Boateng inside out before dinking the ball over the Bayern keeper. It was left to Neymar to round off the scoring, with the Brazilian running clear of a high line in the final minute of the game and easily slotting the ball past Manuel Neuer.
