Bayern’s Euro car crash only enhances Barcelona’s case for glory
Published:
This particular writer has egg on his face after suggesting Paris St-Germain could at least contain Barcelona in their own stadium.
That was before Luis Suarez tied David Luiz into the sort of knots a contortionist would have been proud of, as his audacious double snuffed out PSG hopes of a second appearance in the Champions League semi-finals.
A 3-1 victory for Barca stunned the locals packed into the Parc des Princes and just when the picture couldn’t have been rendered rosier for Luis Enrique’s raiders, news filtered through of the other result.
Bayern Munich had come unstuck in most unpredictable fashion, going down by the same 3-1 scoreline to Porto in the Estadio Dragao, to leave their campaign hanging by the wispiest thread.
With only three teams in European competition history successfully clawing their way back from a 1-3 first-leg deficit during the away-goals era, the German behemoth’s fate looks sealed.
Barcelona swerving their former master Pep Guardiola is a shame for the purists, but without Bayern in the semi-final shake-up, the Spanish outfit will take another giant stride towards glory.
Andreas Iniesta and co lifting the Champions League trophy is now as short as 13/10, but on the evidence this is not a price to be baulked at, rather lapped up like milk by a kitten.
Manchester City and PSG have been made a mockery of in their own stadiums in successive ties, as Barca’s brutal blend of rapid passing, hard pressing and individual brilliance has proved a cut above the rest.
The attacking axis of Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar is the envy of world football. At present there doesn’t seem a defence anywhere on the planet capable of dealing with their combined movement and trickery.
Enrique’s La Liga leaders are now beginning to resemble the tika-taka titans his playing contemporary led to a pair of European cups only a few years ago, only with more flair.
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