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Neymar,
Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi celebrate together as Barcelona booked
their place in the Berlin Champions League final on June 6
But Bayern's lead lasted just eight minutes after Neymar capped off a wonderful Barcelona move to level on the night
Jerome Boateng wasn't out quickly enough to prevent Neymar brilliantly scoring again just before the half hour
Robert Lewandowski (left) equalised in the 59th minute but the hosts had given themselves too much to do on aggregate
Thomas Muller netted a second-leg winner in the 74th minute as Bayern Munich didn't go down lightly
Andres Iniesta (top) joins the Barcelona celebrations late as Neymar equalised for the visitors in Germany
Manuel Neuer raises his hand in appealing for offside but to no avail as Neymar tapped home after neat build-up play
Suarez (right) looked pleased as he lapped up the congratulations following Neymar's second goal of the evening
Messi (right) glides beyond Bayern Munich defender Juan Bernat during a frantic opening half at the Allianz Arena
Brazilian defender Rafinha and Philipp Lahm pay close attention to Barcelona captain Iniesta on Tuesday night
Eccentric German goalkeeper Neuer was at his acrobatic best to deny Neymar a clear run on goal - heading away any danger
Muller balances the ball on his head under the watchful eye of Jordi Alba as Bayern tried to find a way back into the game
Could it
have been different? Well, yes, had Munich taken every chance presented
them. Ter Stegen was excellent in keeping them at bay in the first-half:
a Muller header after 19 minutes, a Robert Lewandowski shot after 27.
Muller should have done much better in the 29th minute, Lewandowski
after 40, both chances set up by Thiago Alcantara.
In the second-half, Lewandowski made amends, of sorts, with arguably the goal of the night. Receiving the ball to feet, he got the jump on Javier Mascherano, switched it from his left to his right and curled it sweetly into the corner of the net.
On many
other European occasions in Bavaria, it would have been a goal that told
of future glory. Here it was a footnote, a trifle, an irrelevance.
Wasted, in many ways. To their credit, Munich kept probing but it was
more through memory than belief.
The best thing about having the finest technical footballers in the world is that it allows a team to do outrageous things. Like the moment midway through the first-half when Barcelona had a free-kick 40 yards from Munich’s goal and, instead of sending everyone up and putting it in the mixer, Messi side-footed a short pass to Suarez who had four opponents around him. Stuff like this happens all the time. Players take the initiative, demand the ball no matter the circumstances. Wonderful angles result, players get sucked into a Barcelona black hole, moved out of position so deftly it is as if they are on strings pulled from above.
The best thing about having the finest technical footballers in the world is that it allows a team to do outrageous things. Like the moment midway through the first-half when Barcelona had a free-kick 40 yards from Munich’s goal and, instead of sending everyone up and putting it in the mixer, Messi side-footed a short pass to Suarez who had four opponents around him. Stuff like this happens all the time. Players take the initiative, demand the ball no matter the circumstances. Wonderful angles result, players get sucked into a Barcelona black hole, moved out of position so deftly it is as if they are on strings pulled from above.
Bernat on his knees after clearing away a Barcelona attack in which Javier Mascherano had joined in with
Gerard Pique grapples for possession with striker Robert Lewandowski, wearing a mask after breaking his nose
Messi is felled by a combination of Bastian Schweinsteiger and Xabi Alonso in midfield as Barcelona took control
Pep Guardiola shakes hands with Messi but his night ended in misery as Bayern were dumped out of the Champions League
Guardiola was left looking glum inside his dugout after Bayern Munich gave themselves far too much to do on aggregate
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