Bayern Loss Reveals Barca’s Need for Depth

It’s easy to see why Bayern Munich were favoured to see off Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals, but I doubt anyone could have foreseen the one-sided 4-0 bashing the Bavarians laid on Lionel Messi and co. on Tuesday night.

Bayern were way too strong for Barca on the night, attacking with pace and purpose, particularly through Arjen Robben on the right flank, using their size advantage to great effect at set pieces, and working relentlessly to deny them time and space at the other end. With Javi Martinez constantly on Andres Iniesta’s tail and the duo of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Dante squeezing a half-paced Lionel Messi, the Spanish giants could hardly get into their usual rhythm. When you see Franck Ribery and Robben – two guys hardly known for defensive discipline – tracking back and tackling, you can tell that Jupp Heynckes has instilled real work ethic at a club that used to be known as FC Hollywood.

The easy conclusion to draw from all these would be that Barcelona’s favoured tiki-taka style has been found out by Bayern’s physical, direct style; that Barca’s lack of a Plan B once again proved their downfall in a Champions League semi-final.

Yet, Bayern didn’t re-invent the wheel here; it’s never been a secret that to stop Barcelona, you have to deny them the time and space they need to cut you to shreds. It’s never been a secret that this vertically challenged team could be found out at set-pieces; or that their defence has been prone to the quick counter-attack all season. All that, as we’ve seen several times over the years, is easier said than done. Many have tried, and failed. On Tuesday night though, Bayern executed perfectly and were well worth their win. Besides, Bayern weren’t just about defensive resilience; they can pass it too. Indeed, they’ve taken the best parts of tiki-taka – relentless pressing and passing possession – and added their own brand of directness and physicality, to devastating effect.

Rather than an indictment of a playing philosophy though, I think what Tuesday’s result really highlighted was that Barcelona have allowed their squad get a little stale – and thin – over the last year or so.

Consider Barcelona’s defense; with injuries to Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano – and Eric Abidal’s long term illness – things have looked far from steady at the back. Of course, even with all those guys fit and ready, it’s worth remembering that Puyol is now 35 and well past his prime, Abidal, 33, has hardly played this season after a second liver transplant, and Mascherano, effective as he has been, is a converted midfield player. Next in line is the young and promising Marc Bartra, who didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in Munich, explaining why Barca have had to play reserve full back Adriano at centre back in key games against Real Madrid and PSG this season.

Further afield, the sheer brilliance and fitness of Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Messi, means Barcelona have been able to cope with just Thiago and Cesc Fabregas as reserves of similar ability. Jonathan dos Santos and Sergio Roberto are hardly first team tested, and Alex Song hasn’t exactly impressed since arriving from Arsenal.

Now, in contrast, consider this: Most people would think Bayern trounced Barcelona with their first choice eleven on Tuesday night. Yet they started without four guys who, under different circumstances, would most likely have played. Germany centre back Holger Badstuber has been injured since December; Brazilian midfielder Luis Gustavo made way for Martinez; midfield ace Toni Kroos went down to injury in the last round; and first choice striker Mario Mandzukic was serving out a one-game suspension. Also in reserve, they could count on Anatoly Tymoschuck, Daniel van Buyten and Diego Contento, who all played in the Champions League final just a year ago, and the brilliant Swiss youngster, Xerdan Shaqiri.

You get the picture. Sure some guys are harder to replace, but Gustavo could step in for Martinez with little or no drop in quality; ditto Kroos for Thomas Muller, van Buyten for Jerome Boateng, or Mandzukic for Mario Gomez. In fact, Robben – one of those you would expect to be indispensable - started the Juventus 1st leg on the bench, only coming on when Kroos got injured.

Barcelona still have some of the best players in world football – indeed, on their day, with all the starters fit, they still have one the best teams anywhere. They are, after all, comfortably on their way to another La Liga title. But they will need to add some depth to their squad, and quickly too, if they want to remain at the very top of the European game.

Champions League (2): Dortmund Re-do for Mourinho

Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund. It would be easy to call this one a classic David v Goliath. Indeed, when you compare the Spanish giants’ 9 European Cups to the solitary one the Germans won in 1997, the scales look pretty unbalanced. And in terms of personnel – both on the field and on the sidelines – the difference is even starker. Aristocrats v plebians. The special one v the schleppy one.

Except, of course, that football is a team game, and as teams go, Borussia Dortmund is a damn good one. So good, in fact, that they’ve already beaten Real Madrid once in the group stages of this Champions League – and came within a minute of winning at the Bernabeu. They also managed to win back-to-back Bundesliga titles over the last two seasons, despite competing with a very good Bayern Munich side, and remain the only unbeaten side in this season’s Champions League.

Manager Jurgen Klopp has moulded a bunch of young, committed players into an immensely, competitive unit that has proved more than a handful for Europe’s best this season. That he has done it without spending big on established stars is even more remarkable. If anything, Dortmund has consistently shipped out its best players over the last three years – with the likes of Lucas Barrios, Shinji Kagawa and the now returned Nuri Sahin all departing for greener pastures. And you can add to that list the name of 20-year old Mario Gotze, whose impending departure for Bayern Munich was only just announced.

The one big-money addition – German international Marco Reus – has proved good value for the 17 million Euros Dortmund splashed to lure him from Borussia Monchengladbach last summer, and his attacking combo with Gotze and the prolific Robert Lewandowski could cause problems for the Real backline.

There’s more to Dortmund than just attacking prowess though; Roman Weidenfeler is a reliable and experienced last line of defence; Mats Hummels is one of the best ball-playing defenders in Europe, and he’ll partner either Neven Subotic or quarter-final hero Felipe Santana in central defence; and then there are the unsung midfield workhorses – Ilkay Gundogan and Sven Bender.

Even so, Dortmund will need to produce their best football to get past Jose Mourinho’s potent counter-attacking machine. Real are finishing the season in much better shape than they started and have their eyes firmly set on decima – a 10th European title. Real have the star players that can turn any game – not least the free-scoring Cristiano Ronaldo – and that can prove crucial in a close game. But they’ve also become a stronger unit, with a solid defensive base built around Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane in central defense, and the assured passing and industry of Xabi Alonso in midfield.

But Real’s biggest asset will be Mourinho, and the fact that he has already had a chance to run the rule over Dortmund twice in this year’s competition. The Portuguese tactician has shown his acumen at eventually solving difficult problems time and again, and it would surprise me if Dortmund managed to get the better of Real over the two legs.

In a battle between two quick, counter-attacking sides, it may come down to defensive solidity - or mistakes – in the final analysis. I think Dortmund will find Ronaldo and co. just a little too hot to handle and Real Madrid will return to the final for the first time in 11 years.

Champions League(1): Barca Face Tough Bayern Test

After some dramatic high jinks in the quarter finals this week, it’s easy to make the case that Europe’s top four clubs make up the final four as the Champions League reached the semi-final stage.

German giants Bayern Munich – already crowned Bundesliga champions with 6 games to play – will take on La Liga champions-in-waiting Barcelona; while, in the other tie, Spanish defending champions Real Madrid face up against Borussia Dortmund, German champions in both 2011 and 2012.

And it’s not only domestic laurels that make these sides outstanding; their recent form in Europe also stands them in good stead. Barcelona, champions in 2009 and 2011, will be playing in a record 6th consecutive semi-final; Real Madrid return to the last four for the third straight year; and Bayern Munich were finalists – losing both times – in 2010 and 2012. Even Dortmund, who haven’t gone this far since they were defending champions in 1998, have already proved their mettle this season, beating both Real Madrid and Manchester City to finish top of their group, and remain the only unbeaten team in this year’s Champions League.

The Bayern – Barcelona looks, on paper at least, the bigger of the two clashes. The Catalan giants have undoubtedly been the team of the era – some say of all-time – dominating in both style and substance over the last 5 years and boasting some of the game’s best ever players in the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and the mercurial Lionel Messi. Yet, it’s fair to say they have been far from their best this year, needing to dig deep to get past both AC Milan and Paris St Germain in the last two rounds. The trademark metronomic passing and relentless pressing, key attributes of their success, have slipped somewhat in recent months, consequently leaving a defence ravaged by injury and illness – to Carles Puyol and Eric Abidal respectively – often vulnerable to the quick counter attack. Perhaps the long absence through illness of Tito Villanova has allowed standards to slip, but a side that commands a 13 point lead in La Liga is hardly in crisis. If there’s one positive, it’s that Barcelona, hitherto able to overcome through excellent execution, have been able to use other attributes – character, determination and pure grit – to pull through some trying situations. And of course, they have Messi, who, despite nursing a hamstring injury, once again proved his value to the Barca cause in that PSG match in midweek. His two goals against Milan also helped inspire the 4-0 comeback win in the 2nd round.

They’ll certainly need him fit if they are to overcome a Bayern Munich team that, for me, are currently the most complete in Europe. The first 45 minutes of their 1st leg quarter final against Juventus was a stunningly breathtaking display of attacking football, the only concern was that they had just the one goal to show for it. Indeed, the ease with which they dismissed the Italian champions over two legs was testament to their all-round strength. Bayern were good enough to reach the final last year, and should have won, but they’ve built on that and look even stronger – and deeper - now. The arrival of Brazilian centre back Dante has tightened up the back line; Javi Martinez provides much needed competition and cover for Luis Gustavo in midfield; and, upfront, the mobility and all-round play of Croat Mario Mandzukic has left last year’s top scorer Mario Gomez (40 goals in all competitions) cooling his heels – and hungry – on the sidelines. Add to that the measured distribution of Bastian Schweinsteiger, the creativity of Toni Kroos, the energy and versatility of Tomas Muller and the trickery and pace of Arjen Robben and Frenchman Franck Ribery, a man playing some of the best football of his career, and it’s clear to see why Bayern, on their day, would be pretty tough to contain.

It’s never easy to bet against Barcelona – especially with the 2nd leg scheduled for the Nou Camp. Yet, their defensive frailties and Messi’s injury troubles mean they are not as strong as usual. Let’s face it; even with a fit Messi, Barca would face a real test in this Bayern side. But that’s as much a testament to the strength of the German champions, as it is of Barca’s perceived weakness. Let’s not forget, the Barca side that started against PSG last week, without Messi, still included eight players who started for Spain at the last World Cup and/or at Euro 2012. (For the sticklers: Jordi Alba didn’t play at the World Cup and David Villa missed the Euros). That big game experience will serve them in good stead.

All told, this tie could hinge on two questions:

First, how much will Bayern miss the suspended Mandzukic in the first leg at the Allianz Arena? Gomez scores more goals than the Croatia international, but cannot match his mobility and work-rate – both important for shutting down Barcelona’s intricate build-up play

How fit will Messi be? His game-changing cameo against PSG showed how much Barca depends on his physical and psychological influence, but Bayern will be a far bigger challenge and the stronger Messi is, the better for Barcelona.

I never predict these things accurately anyway, but I think we are in for two intriguing, close-run, semi-final games, and if the Bavarians can find the goals to crown their relentless attacking play, they’ll deny Barca and book their place in a second consecutive final.


Next: Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund