Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona: 5 talking points

Thomas Mueller (C) of Bayern Muenchen celebrates after scoring his team’s fourth goal with his teammates during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg against Barcelona at Allianz Arena on April 23, 2013 in Munich, Germany. (Getty Images)

Fans and neutrals alike were treated to one of the most shocking nights of European football. That Barcelona would be drubbed 4-0 was almost inconceivable. A Thomas Muller brace, a Robben curler and poacher’s goal from Mario Gomez means The Germans champions have a foot in the final.

Here are 5 talking points from a historic European night:

Pathetic Catalan defence:

There are two sides to any good attacking performance: bad defending and good attacking. This was a combination of both. The defending on set pieces, especially corners was pedestrian. Why would the team rush out to catch someone offside by the slimmest of margins, when they can just clear the ball with lesser risk?

Marc Bartra was given a dream debut; it ended in a nightmare for him. He was heckled by Gomez and Robben all night and hardly ever looked comfortable. His moment came when he had a chance to make it 3-1 and give Barca a way back into the tie, but he finished horribly. Jordi Alba was great going forward, but lost possession often as Robben surged up and down his flank. Bartra’s defensive partner Pique was lucky not to give away a penalty in what was a night to forget for the Barca defenders. Goalkeeper Victor Valdes, true to his style, conceded his customary soft goal as he made a mess of the first and third goal.

Misfiring Messi:

Lionel Messi was clearly not completely fit. Why then was he played? Would it not have been better for the player and the club that he be brought on as a substitute with fresher legs? He did start and have his moments of brilliance. But the marauding runs were absent and he almost uncharacteristically lost the ball several times. Being shadowed by Bastian Schweinsteiger did not help matters.

Right and Left:

Both teams had full-backs with a high desire to burst forward. Both sets of full-backs were very capable of causing havoc up the field. And we saw Dani Alves do it all through the night. Phillip Lahm and David Alaba were more selective in their runs and never let men get in behind. If on the odd occasion, the Barcelona players successfully did slip in behind did there was to be no outlet in the box.

While Alves was one player who played well, the third goal was directly a result of his attacking raids. The third can be attributed to Jordi Alba. Although he had been unfairly blocked of the ball by Mueller, the fact remains that had Alba been alert and present, Robben would never have gotten through. Bayern’s wingers were seen tracking back all through the night as both Robben and Ribery put in great shifts.

Tactical battles:

Jupp Heynckes in his swansong season is showing all his grit and acumen as a manager. He started with Mueller who heckled Busquets and Xavi all through the game. Then the selection of Robben on the right flank could not have been an easy choice. But in the end it turned out to be the right one. The more mobile Jerome Boateng replacing the physical Daniel van Buyten was another move that respected his opponents’ strengths. The best tactic that he employed was that he made Schweinsteiger sit deep, protecting his centre-backs and instigating play. Also he set the German midfielder loose on Messi, who was rendered useless by his guile and physicality.

Vilanova missed a trick by not playing Fabregas and Villa from the start. A fit and firing Villa would have been a better choice than an injured Messi. Alexis Sanchez was by common consensus the worst performer on the night. In a Barcelona side that employs so much of short passing and ball movement around the park it is nearly impossible for a player to just disappear; Sanchez did just that.

Midfield Maestros:

Javi Martinez and Schweinsteiger were the real heroes of Bayern’s victory. With Martinez hounding Messi, Iniesta and Xavi, he made them lose possession several times. He ably broke up play with minor fouls and did all the dirty work that he could. Also he was crucial in launching counter-attacks.

Schweinsteiger was the perfect German midfielder on the night. He made rare but effective forays forward. His main job though was to protect his centre-backs and like Martinez alongside him, disrupted play casually. Though he could have been a lot more creative and outgoing, he curbed his instincts and was the man of the match.