On the wane?

Does Bayern Munich's demolition job on Barcelona in midweek represent a changing of the guard in Europe?

Bayern Munich were undoubtedly impressive in their demolition of ragged Barcelona. But good as they were, there was nothing in their performance that would have me switch my TV to coverage of the Bundesliga in the way I did with La Liga when the Catalans were in their extraordinary pomp. And that's what made me glum on Tuesday night - watching the apparent demise of a team that was truly extraordinary. The Barca of the last three or four seasons have been the greatest football team I have ever seen, playing a kind of football I've never witnessed before and possessing in Xavi, Iniesta and Messi three of the most wonderful talents to ever grace the football fields of Europe. Barca rather refired my interest in football and in what was possible. Yes, Bayern executed their win superbly - but in a rather conventional, clinical fashion that was a touch joyless. Barca have been on a very gradual slide. Perhaps, just perhaps, a heavy workload and the incredible intensity of their play has just taken an inevitable toll - even wearing down the previously impervious Messi - and they may be back after a decent rest. But I suspect, and have suspected for a while, that this side has run its course, having peaked two years ago at Wembley in their awe-inspiring defeat of Manchester United. What's been most noticeable has been the considerable drop-off in their intensity when out of possession, something that has become a serious issue against the better teams in Europe. Their ability on the ball has still been enough to see off most sides, but their inability (or unwillingness?) to win back possession as quickly as before against Europe's elite means that they allow their opponents a little more time and space to build. The pressing game that was so vital to their defensive play seems to have evaporated. The discipline seems to be gone - pressing in ones and twos instead of the full court press we were so used to seeing. Critically, opponents seem to be able to pour more easily through the Barcelona midfield and get their back four on the back foot. One key issue is how opponents get more opportunities to exploit the lack of height in the Barcelona side at set-pieces. Previously, with Barca dominating possession and playing the entire game in their opposition's half, their opponents were seldom able to win free-kicks high enough up the pitch, or even corner-kicks, to take advantage of this clear deficiency. But with the Catalans no longer working hard enough when out of possession, no longer winning the ball back as quickly and consistently as before, they are no longer able to keep good opponents at arm's length. PSG and Milan, and even Celtic, have managed to take advantage this season. But the problems were most glaringly exposed in Munich. Is it the end of an era? I fear that it may be. Xavi, so pivotal to what they do, is clearly not what he was at the highest level. Carles Puyol, the lion-hearted and lion-headed leader, is showing his age and can't be counted on a regular. And the squad has begun to look stretched - having to play your best player when he's clearly unfit served to underline that fact. Last year, I wrote that the incredible demands of how Barca play - the sheer technical quality required of their players when in possession and the effort and discipline demanded of them when the ball is lost - threatened hopes of a long-term domination of the European game. Why? Because finding players, internally or externally, of the required calibre to sustain their approach to the game is an extremely difficult ask. It would be considerably easier to replenish a side with more conventional and traditional patterns of play. Tuesday night was sad, but it was coming. And while some seem to be revelling in their demise, I for one feel privileged to have been around to see them play in their pomp. And I feel a sense of regret that Barcelona look set to be usurped by powerful, impressive sides who are ultimately nothing out of the ordinary. This article first appeared on Football365