Skip to content

Lionel Messi inspires Barca as Bayern cruise into Champions League semi-finals

Image: Messi: Came off the bench to help Barca into the final four

Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to come from behind to reach a record sixth straight Champions League semi-final, after Paris Saint-Germain gave the Catalans a scare at the Nou Camp.

Juventus 0-2 Bayern Munich (agg: 0-4)

Steve McClaren: I was very disappointed with Juventus, but it was a very organised, disciplined professional performance by Bayern. When you look at the two teams, both leading their respective championships by a long margin, the gulf was enormous. Bayern expected the first 20 minutes of each half to be Juventus coming at them and they did - Juve had a couple of chances - but Bayern survived that and in the end totally dominated and controlled the game. It was Bayern's 4-5-1 formation against a 3-5-2 from Juventus. Most top teams are quite flexible in what they can do to change games, but Juventus weren't flexible enough over the two games; they stuck with the three at the back, with Pirlo sitting and didn't change formation, didn't change anything and in the end Bayern were too professional, too organised and too disciplined. At this level to play a 3-5-2 against these good teams who are very intelligent and tactically aware, you can get punished. Bayern have done their homework, knew how to play against a 3-5-2 system, used their full-backs, used their wide men, controlled possession through midfield and did a totally professional job. The quality of the Bayern players is far greater than the individual quality of the Juventus players - and we've seen that in this game. It would now be good to see a Barcelona v Real Madrid semi-final and Bayern v Borussia Dortmund semi-final. You'll then get two styles which are the same in the semis but in the final you'll get contrasting styles and that would be good. But all four teams deserve to be there, they are the best four teams in Europe at the moment and have got special players.

Around Sky