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.
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