When they have injuries or lack of fitness, Barca do suffer. Their squad is not the best.
Barcelona's defence was also never very good (especially missing Puyol and Mascherano!), but it was shielded by a powerhouse midfield. You couldn't get the ball off them enough to hurt them.
I daresay that midfield is on a downhill slope. Xavi in particular is still class, but he is not getting any younger and he just can't protect the defence like he used to say 2 years ago.
A big battle here was where Schweinsteiger and Martinez bossed the midfield of both games, they were just brilliant and provided total protection and confidence for Bayern's defence.
Once you get the ball off Barca now, they used to press with huge energy and get it back. They don't or can't do that as well as they could.
Then when they don't have the ball and you have the pace to get at their defence......it falls apart.
Barca will be a power for a while yet, but Bayern are surely the best side in Europe right now, and Barca's cycle (for the moment) is over.
A fair opinion but I have never seen a team as good as Barca have been in recent times get such a drubbing at this stage of the Champions League. Bayern are a great team but are they really seven goals better than the worlds greatest team(as of late obviously)? I don't think so. Madrid had a terrible start in La Liga this year which is why Barca are so far ahead. I think this is way more serious than a "dip". They look completely out of ideas.
The Problem with Barca is teams have worked out how to play against them and they are week at the back. If Barca can bring in some stronger players at the back then they will be a lot better than they have been this season but if they don't I don't think teams will go into the games against them being scared.
Should be interesting to see what happens with this team and Madrid at the end of the season. I do hope Ronaldo comes back to Old Trafford though he is just what we need to kick on from this season but I really don't see it.
Wow, I was expecting Bayern to go through but not by also slaughtering and humiliating Barcelona on their own ground. It was painful to watch Barcelona struggle and force a victory, which ultimately became their very own downfall. I guess this should provide enough indication that the Bundesliga in its current state is superior to La Liga, possibly the best one of Europe. Bayern definitely has my money to win the finals, their playstyle is simply amazing to watch and completely surpasses the quality of Barcelona.
You need to look at the strength and depth of the league before saying Bundesliga is above La Liga or EPL. Top to bottom, I'd say it's still behind them both.
Madrid played with passion yesterday and put in a great effort so close to qualification. Barca continued as was in the first leg.
As I said last week, Barca haven't been the same for at least 14 months and it's finally showing. Quality has worn away and without Messi they're literally nothing now. The only reason Barca have the league is because Madrid had such a terrible start.
barca are nothing without messi. no cutting edge at all. the best 2 teams are in the final, emphasis on the word "TEAMS" glad it isnt barca and madrid, getting tired of these messi, ronaldo showdowns.
Damn, hurts, but oh well what can you do. We need a better manager, and that means Tito needs to be better or get out. Masherano and Puyols were out, that's a huge defensive hole to cover...Messi was benched, and never fit for both games. Barca, as a team, were playing too stubbornly, not the same magic they use to play with. They need to play like they use to again, and find more options to attack with. Our front wingers are more midfielders than anything.
Barca have declined a lot, but by no means are they not considered one of the best teams out there...time to rebuild, and bring in some fresh faces...
not to sound like an ass, but the whole "messi wasnt fit" just sounds lame. wasnt fit, i dont think so. http://11x2.com/news/124200... if the league is almost over, and they so far ahead, why risk it knowing they need 5 goals midweek. they got their tactics wrong. barca F%^&ked up. no other excuses or reasons will justify this performance. bayern were the better team over both legs and the result is proof of that.
today its like barca never even try. bench messi, start song. makes sense? really? iniesta and xavi looked like they didnt know who to pass to. who knows what cesc was doing.
we all seen barca demolish teams before, it was bound to happen to them sooner or later.
I still think he wasn't fit for the first leg, and that could've postponed his recovery. Who knows if he hurt himself by playing that liga game? The pressure was on Tito and he had no idea what to do, and he surely waved the white flag in this match.
There are no excuses for the beating they took of course, but you have to recognize they had 3 big injuries to cope with..
Very true but i feel Barcelona burned themselves out during the end of the season. They over exerted themselves during the minor games were they were already winning by a large margin. They needed to play smarter and use Messi sparingly during the big games.
Messi has been playing non stop during the season so it no surprise hes injured, unfortunately at a time which is very crucial. Barcelona need to create a plan B next season and redirect there attention on the later games more so then the earlier ones.
Bundesliga isn't some sort of super league, the La Liga giants are just terrible at the moment.
Arsenal only went out to Bayern on the away goals rule (beat Bayern 2-0 on their own patch) and they're struggling to even qualify for the Champions League next season.
Also, don't forget the Dortmund team that outplayed Madrid in all 4 Champions League matches they have met in this season were VERY lucky not to get knocked out by Malaga who are 5th in La Liga!
Malaga choked just like Dortmund did the other night.
I don`t give a fuck about the teenager girl team barcelona, but I care to write about the sodomizing cunts who plays there; diving when YOU make the tackle makes me wonder how much the referees love these teenager girls.
As a Madrid/Spain fan this German demolishing machine just worries me for the next World Cup considering players like Xavi, Xabi, Puyol & others will be 30+ (or very close) yrs old. Pretty sure we are seeing the end of a purely awesome cycle in football by Spain. If it is, then it's been one hell of a ride.
this is crazy!!
Ze germans are taking over.
LOOL Piques own goal was hilarious! xD
Ouch! How the mighty have fallen.
Wow, I was expecting Bayern to go through but not by also slaughtering and humiliating Barcelona on their own ground. It was painful to watch Barcelona struggle and force a victory, which ultimately became their very own downfall. I guess this should provide enough indication that the Bundesliga in its current state is superior to La Liga, possibly the best one of Europe. Bayern definitely has my money to win the finals, their playstyle is simply amazing to watch and completely surpasses the quality of Barcelona.
Bayern – Barcelona = 7:0
There is less slaughter in a slaughter house. Completely outclassed by a superior Bayern.
Pique just decided to really end it.