Barcelona 0, Bayern Munich 3
May 1, 2013![Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller celebrates after scoring a goal against Barcelona during their Champions League semi-final second leg soccer match at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona May 1, 2013. REUTERS/Albert Gea (SPAIN - Tags: SPORT SOCCER TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)](https://static.dw.com/image/16783979_800.webp)
That's it, we have an all-Bundesliga Champions League final at Wembley on May 25. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund - who meet this weekend in the Bundesliga - will fight amongst themselves for the top European title of 2013.
Bayern won comfortably even in Barcelona to wrap up a comprehensive aggregate winning margin of seven goals.
To quote my editor Matt Zuvela: "The Road to Wembley is an Autobahn."
90+' --- Full time. Barcelona 0-3 Bayern Munich. Bayern win 7-0 on aggregate. Goals on the night courtesy of Arjen Robben, Gerard Pique (OG), and Thomas Müller.
90+' --- The clock's ticking down with Bayern on the front foot. This will be the club's third win at Camp Nou, a record for non-Spanish teams (who of course get regular domestic attempts to do so).
86' --- Barca sub out defender Batra for defender Montoya. This margin was so clear that it seems Vilanova sees no need to even risk a fragile Messi. He's good, but only a worker of minor miracles.
85' --- David Villa puts another shot down Manuel Neuer's throat. Pretty build-up, no end-product - story of Barca's difficult night.
82' --- Barca sub Thiago heads towards goal, but gets no purchase on his effort. Manuel Neuer jogged across to collect. Meanwhile, van Buyten is nursing a knock after challenging Thiago for the header. He will have to soldier on, Bayern have used their three subs.
81' --- Batra heads just off target from a Barcelona corner. The hosts have ten minutes and change to salvage at least a goal against Neuer and friends.
79' --- Barcelona have not lost at the Camp Nou since Rubin Kazan came to town in 2009. They'll do well to avoid defeat here.
'76 --- One more sub, one more spared starter for the final. Captain Philipp Lahm - a booking from suspension again - makes way for Brazilian ex-Schalke fullback Rafinha. All missions very much accomplished for Jupp Heynckes at Camp Nou - including keeping key players off the suspended list.
'75 --- GOAL! 3-0 Bayern. Ribery again makes the running down the left, and Thomas Müller rises to head home from point-blank range at the back post. Bayern's wing-based attacking strategy is working wonders - yet again.
73' --- Sub Bayern: Javi Martinez off for Anatoliy Tymoshchuk. Another player in danger of suspension is spared. The Spaniard, once a Barcelona trasfer target, will play at Wembley.
72' --- GOAL! Own goal Pique. Bayern 2-0 up on the night and 6-0 on aggregate. Sub Luiz Gustavo played Ribery in down the left flank; his dangerous cross needed to be dealt with. Pique swung a boot at it, miscued, and knocked it into his own net.
71' --- Pedro hits another comparatively lame distance shot at Manuel Neuer's feet. They'll need to conjure up better than that against Joachim Löw's number 1 keeper.
69' --- Van Buyten and Boateng - neither of them first choice options in central defense - are mopping up everything in the danger zone. Barca are looking increasingly unlikely even to score a consolation goal.
65' --- Sub Bayern: Luiz Gustavo replaces Bastian Schweinsteiger. Schweini was a yellow away from suspension - but now he will play in the final. His Brazilian replacement, also one card from suspension, must mind his manners too.
61' --- Goal-creator David Alaba again shows that Bayern have attacking fullbacks too. His long-range shot, however, did not cut the mustard and bobbled well wide.
59' --- A Bayern attack comes to nothing down the left. Nevertheless Bastian Schweinsteiger's look-away pass with the outside of his right boot was so sumptuous it deserves documenting.
57' --- Thomas Müller ran out of steam in another promising break. The attacking midfielder checked up and looked for support when his best option might have been to shoot first time - even with his weaker left foot.
55' --- Another chance goes begging for Bayern. Meanwhile, Barcelona start changing to attack. Midfielder and captain Xavi makes way for attacker Alexis Sanchez. Cesc Fabregas, playing up top, could probably drop back into the middle.
51' --- David Villa fires wide of Manuel Neuer's post as a shellshocked Barca seek to salvage first some pride in front of home fans. The pre-match stadium choreo spelled out the Catalan for "Barca pride" in giant letters, and the fans are still cheering for some.
48' --- GOAL for Bayern!!!! David Alaba with a mouthwatering cross-field pass to Arjen Robben, who did what he does best. The flying Dutchman danced in from the right, before curling it into the top corner with his left peg. 1-0 Bayern, and 5-0 on aggregate. Book your tickets, Bayern fans.
47' --- Bayern's first breakaway breaks down. Thomas Müller did well to get clear, but then made a howler of a decision, trying to play a pass through traffic on the left, and ignoring the wide-open Mandzukic on the right.
46' --- Slovenian ref Skomina again purses his lips to start the second half. Bayern have 1.95 feet in the final at Wembley; Barcelona need four unanswered goals just to force extra time, or five to win.
-----------------Half time: Barcelona 0-0 Bayern (4-0 Bayern agg.)---------------------------
45+' --- Referee Skomina blows the whistle for half time as midfield maestro Bastian Schweinsteiger is treated for a nasty knock. He now has half time to recover. Dani Alves was booked for the foul on "Schweini."
45' --- Heynckes and Bayern would surely settle for 0-0 at the break. Barca coach Vilanova said he was aiming for 2-0 at the half. He doesn't have long to achieve that.
41' --- The final ball is missing for Barcelona, confronted by a collective defensive effort from Bayern. The work rate of wingers Robben and Ribery is particularly impressive at the back; nicknamed "Robbery," they're stealing nothing today.
39' --- Left back Adriano breaks forward for Barcelona and hits a long, low shot that doesn't trouble Neuer.
34' --- Arjen Robben runs and runs on the break (should he have passed instead?) before himself firing off a shot that was blocked. Bayern are now basically resigned to counter-attacks, though that's still a dangerous avenue for the Bavarians.
33' --- Veteran van Buyten to the rescue after a snaky dribble from Andres Iniesta. The Belgian blocked his shot.
31' --- Arjen Robben booked for a loose tackle, going in late against Alexandre Song. He was not threatened with suspension - provided he doesn't get a second yellow, he could play at Wembley.
29' --- Manuel Neuer, often the best paid unemployed German in the world with the way Bayern tend to defend, has work to do today. Most recently, mopping up a cross from Pedro that was a little too close to the blond beast between the Bayern sticks.
26' --- Xavi volleys over from close range, seconds after Barca wanted a penalty. Tito Vilanova's side are starting to turn the screw. Were it not for some crossed Spanish wires between David Villa and Cesc Fabregas, that past attack might have been even more dangerous.
24' --- Save Manuel Neuer from Pedro's long shot, the German international really had to stretch to get his fingertips to it and concede the corner. The set piece fizzled out. Bizarrely, Bayern have had more possession (45 percent) than they had in the home leg (34 percent).
18' --- Yummy! Robben and Schweinsteiger dance down Barcelona's right flank, breaking into the box. Only a last-ditch tackle from Spaniard Pique disrupted the move. As in the first leg, Bayern are avoiding Barcelona's beloved center of the pitch, trying to concentrate their attacks down the wings.
14' --- Barcelona and Dani Alves in turn found acres of space down the right against Bayern. The Brazilian's low cross was imprecise, squandering a promising move.
11' --- Arjen Robben misses a one-on-one! Bayern's beautiful one-touch football released the winger over the top after several slick passes. On his favored left, Robben went for precision. Victor Valdes got his gloves to it.
9' --- First clearcut opportunity to Barca! Xavi swung in a free kick - dubiously given for handball by Robben - but central defender Batra's header was a long way off the mark. Goalless at Camp Nou.
7' --- Both sides are flirting with scoring chances without quite creating them. Barca's David Villa was stopped in the Bayern box, while Franck Ribery had his shot blocked as the Bavarians hit back on the counter.
4' --- Bayern looking the more incisive in the opening minutes, a couple of promising moves have broken down on the edge of the box at the feet of front man Mario Mandzukic. At the other end, goalie Manuel Neuer has had only a wayward cross to deal with thus far.
1' --- The match has begun at Camp Nou, the penultimate game of this Champions League season. Who will be playing the last one?
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The players take to the pitch. Bayern's worst defeat of the entire season so far was a 3-1 loss on the road against BATE Borisov of Belarus in the group phase. Barcelona must win by five clear goals to make the final. As mountains go, this is Everest - can they climb it?
Spanish journalist Alfredo Martinez says that Lionel Messi is under doctor's orders not to play more than 45 minutes. He came on as a second-half sub against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend. The game finished a disappointing 2-2, but Messi set up one Barcelona goal and scored an absolute peach himself.
Coach Jupp Heynckes, speaking to Sky Germany, has appealed to his players to be careful, to respect the referee's decisions and avoid picking up any silly bookings. He also said "while we can defend very well, we're strong in attack, too - and we will need that." He doesn't want too much of a rearguard effort even with a four-goal cushion.
Other Bayern Munich players who are one yellow card away from suspension in the final are Javi Martinez (starting), Luiz Gustavo (bench), Mario Gomez (bench), Bastian Schweinsteiger (starting) and captain Philipp Lahm (starting). They need to be on their best behavior.
And as for Barcelona, there's one major shock on their teamsheet. The "Atomic Flea" and three-time World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, will not start. He's nursing an injury and looked off color in the first leg - but expect to see him before the match is done.
With 35 minutes to kick off, the starting line-ups are out. Bayern have evidently decided to spare central defender Dante, who would be suspended for the final if he picked up a booking tonight.
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There's just a few more meters to run on the Champions League "Road To Wembley" for Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Tonight's winners will face Borussia Dortmund, who held on against Real Madrid on Tuesday night, on May 25 at Wembley in London.
Bayern, led by 67-year-old coach Jupp Heynckes, take a sizeable 4-0 lead to Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium - but will it be enough against Lionel Messi and the most successful football club of this century? If the Bavarians do make it, they would tee up an all-Bundesliga Champions League finale.
Here are the line-ups:
Barcelona XI: Valdes - Alves, Batra, Pique, Adriano - Xavi, Song, Iniesta - Pedro, Fabregas, Villa (Coach: Tito Vilanova)
Subs: Pinto - Montoya, Dos Santos, Thiago, Alexis, Messi, Tello
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer - Lahm, Boateng, van Buyten, Alaba - Martinez, Schweinsteiger - Robben, Müller, Ribery - Mandzukic (Coach: Jupp Heynckes)
Subs: Starke - Dante, Shaqiri, Rafinha, Luiz Gustavo, Gomez, Tymoshchuk
Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)