BARCELONA HUMILIATED BY BAYER MUNICH

BARCELONA HUMILIATED BY BAYER MUNICH

Spanish giants, Barcelona, will need a record breaking performance to qualify for the final of this year’s UEFA Champions League after going down to a shocking 4-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday night at the Allianz Arena.

Barcelona were made to look ordinary as they barely had a shot on target despite risking world footballer of the year, Lionel Messi, to start the first leg semi final duel.

Bayern started out the better side and as early as the 2nd minute had the first real chance inside the Allianz Arena, but Arjen Robben’s strike inside the penalty box was saved by Victor Valdes.

Bayern finally got the lead in the 25th minute off an header from Thomas Muller who connected a flick from Dante to send the fans into wild jubilation and make the score 1-0.

The German side had two penalty calls off hand balls from Barcelona defenders but were denied by the referee.

That notwithstanding, Bayern ran the show all through the first half as Barcelona ended the first 45 minutes with no shot on target.

On resumption of the second half, the Bundesliga Champions continued from where they stopped and were soon rewarded within the first five minutes off a great goal from Mario Gomez.

Bayern did not take anything for granted as Arjen Robben added the third goal in the 73rd minute before Muller completed the humiliation of Barcelona with his 82nd minute strike.

The return leg comes up at the Nou Camp next week Wednesday with Barcelona facing a daunting task. The last time Barcelona suffered a 4-0 defeat in a Champions League game was in 2005.