Champions League is Bayern's to throw away

Ger McCarthy

Has Spanish football run out of gas?
Similar to their great rivals Barcelona the night before, Real Madrid looked to be in complete control at home to Bayern Munich until the concession of a penalty, coverted by Arjen Robben, turned the tie on its head. The confidence and spark that characterised a positive Madrid start quickly evaporated into a game of containment with the score tied 3-3 on aggregate. Real lacked their early season sharpness and ability to break from deep as the match progressed and it was the Germans who looked the more likely to net a winner. Real and Barcelona have fought toe-to-toe throughout an exhausting domestic campaign to the point where a draw was looked upon almost as a defeat and an actual loss caused hysteria in the tabloids. A never-ending duel for the Liga crown appears to have drained Spain's top two sides to the point neither could muster the necessary effort to see off (on paper at least) inferior opposition in the last four of the Champions League.

What now for The Special One?
It was reported earlier in the week that Jose Mourinho had indicated he wished to stay on for at least another season in charge of Los Blancos but those comments came before the gut-wrenching penalty shootout loss. The self proclaimed TSO cut a forlorn figure hunched on the sideline as his Madrid side missed three penalties and allow Munich progress to a home final against his former club, Chelsea. Mourinho is famed for his tactical nous when it comes to developing a plan for overcoming opponents. Yet Wednesday the Portuguese manager had the look of a lost soul as attack after Munich attack pinned his team in their own half for long stretches of the second half and extra time. The dream of winning a Champions League with three different clubs will have to wait another year but Mourinho must realise his side wasted a glorious opportunity to claim European football's most coveted prize with a weakened Chelsea rather than a wounded Barcelona standing in his way. As with Guardiola it will be fascinating to see how Mourinho and his side rebound from their European failure.

Is this Bayern's year?
Jupp Heynckes bullish pre-match statement of intent that Bayern “were capable of scoring at any moment” set the tone for a disciplined, confident and committed performance at the Bernabeu. Any side that possesses a quality 'spine' through its team including Neuer in goal, Lahm at the back, Schweinsteiger and Kroos anchoring the midfield plus Robben and Ribery attacking from the flanks for the prolific Gomez has a fantastic chance of lifting the Champions League trophy. For Heynckes, the semi-final victory will have been sweet considering he was sacked by the Spnaish giants having delivered their first European Cup in 32 years. Lifting the trophy at Bayern's home ground will prove even sweeter for the German Coach.

Where was Ronaldo when Madrid needed him most?
Cristiano Ronaldo emerged from the shadow of Lionel Messi with a match-winning performance and goal in the 2-1 Camp Nou victory on Saturday before taking his total to 10 Champions League goals with a brace in the opening 20 minutes against Munich on Wednesday night. 56 strikes in all this season's competitions has cemented Ronaldo's place amongst the list of all time leading Madrid scorers yet like his great rival Messi, the Portuguese winger was unable to land the killer blow when his team needed it most. Ronaldo cut a peripheral figure once Munich controlled the tempo of the tie and rounded off a miserable night by seeing his weak penalty kick saved in the shootout. He remains Real Madrid and La Liga's most lethal attacker this term yet talk of moving his name into the pantheon of all time greatest players will have to wait until another Champions League medal is around his neck.

Is it Bayern's to throw away?
Home advantage and facing a weakened Chelsea makes Bayern Munich overwhelming favourites to win this season's Champions League. The Bundesliga outfit may not be at full strength on May 19th with David Alaba, Holger Badstuber and Luiz Gustavo suspended but the Bavarians possess a depth of quality in their squad suggesting Chelsea will need another backs to the wall defensive effort to have any chance of causing an upset. Unlike their sixth placed Premier League opponents, Bayern are all but guaranteed Champions League football next season as they sit just behind Borussia Dortmund in the standings. Chelsea also faces the prospect of a testing FA Cup final against a Liverpool side desperate to salvage their season before they take to the field in the Allianz Arena. Roared on by a vociferous home support this year's Champions League is Bayern's to throw away.

*Follow Ger on Twitter: @germccarthy74

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/XQlX_fzYAWM/post.aspx

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