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After Manchester United sealed their 20th league triumph with the help of a quick fire hat-trick from Robin van Persie, next up on the footballing world’s roster is the mouth-watering tie of Bayern Munich vs. Barcelona.
Easily the more eagerly anticipated of the two semi-final ties, this match is set to be a marker on where these teams stand in world football with both of them arguably fighting for the top two spots. While Bayern Munich are on the rise and on the brink of starting their own era of Barca-like dominance, Barca themselves are looking to prove that Barca-like dominance is exclusive.
Sure, Bayern is at its sharpest, boasting serious depth in its squad, but Barca have Lionel Messi and as has been the case in recent times, the tie will most likely hinge upon whether Messi can be stopped; something which teams have been unable to do even when he is half-fit!
Lionel Messi laughs during training ahead of their UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match against FC Bayern Muenchen on April 22, 2013 in Munich, Germany. (Getty Images)
The Messi factor
Lionel Messi is fit to start, although Jordi Roura said, “Messi is feeling good, he’s motivated, but we’ll see how the last training goes. We’ll decide tomorrow if he plays.” Messi will start if Tito saw what all of us saw – the difference he made when he came on against PSG in the 2nd leg of the quarter final just goes to show how important a player he is.
Messi should definitely start, not just for the attacking threat he poses, but the psychological edge that he provides to his team. Although it might be too late in this season, Barca would do better to figure out a good plan to deal with the absence of Messi, if and when he is injured. It is anyone’s guess as to who would have made it to the semi-finals had Messi been more seriously injured in the tie against PSG.
Cristian Tello has put in some good performances recently in the absence of Messi and it would be worth a shot to devise a strategy centring around him as he has that electric pace, which can really make a difference in tight situations.
Bayern’s perfect squad
No team in the world can boast of a squad as deep and as flexible as Bayern at the moment. Their youth policy and shrewd transfer dealings have combined to form a squad in which players can be rotated frequently without it affecting the score line at all. Despite making eight changes to the team which played the previous match, Bayern flatted Hannover 6-1 in the league match on Saturday. That is one of the key aspects which helped them win the Bundesliga league title in record time with six games to spare!
With their leading goal scorer Mario Mandzukic suspended and their playmaker Toni Kroos injured, one would imagine that Bayern would be ill-equipped to deal with Barca. But once you know that Mandzukic will be replaced by Mario Gomez and in place of Kroos, Thomas Muller will be pushed to the centre and Robben will start on the right, you will realise that it is not much of a worry.
Although Gomez hasn’t really lit the stage this season, he is still third in their list of goal scorers in the league behind Mandzukic and Muller with 10 goals. Robben has not been at his best either, but his pace will trouble Barca. Philipp Lahm will bomb down the flanks as well and look to add to his incredible tally of 14 assists this season.
The midfield battle
Bayern Munich this season has an average possession of 64% with a pass success rate of 87% second only to Barcelona who average 70% possession with a 90% completion rate. Therefore, Bayern very much like Barcelona, is a team that thrives on possession. But that is going to be a bit of a problem when you face Barcelona. The Barca triangle of Busquets-Xavi-Iniesta will encounter the double pivot of Javier Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger and this is where the match will be won or lost.
Busquets will be tasked with protecting the flimsy back-four of Barca, which leaves them with a two-on-two situation. But that is where Messi is crucial as he will drop into midfield more often than not and Martinez will most likely be the man assigned with the task of marking him, a role with which he will be familiar from his time in La Liga. Schweinsteiger will need some help from Muller to keep the midfield compact.
Form and expected starting line-ups
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer – Lahm, van Buyten, Dante, Alaba – Martinez, Schweinsteiger – Robben, Muller, Ribery – Gomez
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes – Alves, Pique, Bartra, Alba – Xavi, Busquets, Iniesta – Sanchez, Messi, Pedro
Bayern is in top form after their 6-1 win against Hannover. Their defence is solid – solid enough to keep a clean sheet in both legs of their tie against Juventus. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Barca who haven’t really arrived in their top form after their 1-0 win against Levante and neither do they have a solid defence, which has been the case the whole season.
Marc Bartra is set to have a look in since he has the height factor and also because he is a natural defender, both of which are rarities in Barca defenders these days.
Another aspect which will be interesting to watch is the attacking nature of all the four full-backs on the pitch. Alves and Lahm are both experienced right-backs who have been on the scene for many years whereas Alaba and Alba are relatively new finds who are very dynamic and exciting prospects.
Head coach Jupp Heynckes talks to players prior to a Bayern Muenchen training session ahead of their UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match against FC Barcelona on April 22, 2013 in Munich, Germany. (Getty Images)
Pedro who scored the crucial equaliser in the second leg against PSG should take David Villa’s place in the side after he played the full 90 against Levante. Sanchez, who has been in good nick recently, will start on the opposite flank.
Ribery and Muller are no-brainers for Bayern as both men are in scintillating form. While Ribery looks the more intimidating and threatening of the two, Barca would be ill-advised to under-estimate Muller. Muller is not your typical sturdy forward, neither is he a tricky winger, but he’s hard-working and determined and has 18 goals and 11 assists to his name this season.
It will be interesting to see if Bayern will change their style to improve their chances, especially in front of their home crowd, by soaking up the pressure and springing speedy counter-attacks. They have the setup to do it, with Gomez who is a very reliable hold-up player up front and Robben and Ribery who can provide the necessary pace. Barcelona though will be unfazed and will simply go about their business as usual.
All in all, these matches are what football fans live for. It will surely be a delight for the neutrals and a nail-biter for the Catalan and Bavarian fans.
Prediction: Bayern Munich 2-2 Barcelona
