By Aiwu Esele
Faces of Victory, Bayern players, left and of defeat, Barcelona players, right
Scoring 8 goals in a Champions League quarter- final match is a historic feat. And doing so against five- time winner, Barcelona, is legendary.
That is the record set by two-time, Champions, Bayern Munchen in their quarter- final match against Barcelona on Friday. They were fleet –footed, brilliant and bold in the defense, midfield and attack.
Except for a 7- minute slip by defender David Alaba whose own goal in error, when Frankie de Jong intended to pass the ball to Luis Suarez, caught his leg and scored his keeper, Neur, Barcelona was a shadow of its own self.
Age is no doubt not on their side as many of the players have climbed the 30 years mark, but then two- time goal scorer for Bayern, Thomas Muller in the 3rd minute and the 31st minute, is also in his 30s. Even Robert Lewandowski, who assisted Muller and scored in the 81st minute, is approaching that age mark.
In the 20 min, however, Croatian International, Ivan Perisic, made it 2-1,for Bayern after a dazzling play that resulted in a shot that deflected off defender Clement Lenglet, which keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen could not save. Before half-time, score was 4-1.
On resumption of play, Barcelona practically went to sleep after Suarez lifted their hope in the 56th min with a goal after dribbling past Jerome Boateng and slotted the ball pass Nuer. Then Bayern started piling in the goals, from Joshua Kimmich in the 63rd min, Lewandowski, scoring his fourteenth goal in the tournament, and, would you believe it? Philippe Coutinho, Barca’s loan to Bayern, scored a brace, to sink his parent club. Barcelona conceded eight goals in a game for the first time since losing 8-0 to Sevilla in the Copa Last 16 in 1946. What a way to end the game. Bayern will face the winner of Saturday encounter between Manchester City and Olympic Lyon.
‘Is it an end of an era, I’m not sure?’ – Pique
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique speaking to Spain’s Movistar: “I’m in pain. We all are. We can’t compete like that. It’s very, very tough to take. Nothing more is worth saying. The club needs changes. Not just the players, I don’t want to point out anyone.
“But football is a sport where change is constantly required. We must change the dynamic we are on because I believe we have just hit bottom. We have to look around, we have to trust that people will do the right things for the club.
“Is it an end of an era, I’m not sure? But I know that we must accept that we have hit bottom. Not just players the but, as a club, we aren’t on the right road. We have had years of success but we haven’t won the league and we haven’t won in Europe and we have to compete. You’ve seen it on the pitch and this today is unacceptable.
“If I have to go in order to change things I’ll be the first to accept that. This was a horrible game… it’s a dreadful feeling. It’s shameful. Structurally we need changes at all levels.”
