Barca reach Champions League final despite Bayern loss

MUNICH - Barcelona's Neymar struck twice to put the Spanish side in the Champions League final despite a 3-2 loss at Bayern Munich on Tuesday as they progressed 5-3 on aggregate and will face Real Madrid or Juventus next month.

The tricky Brazil forward's double in 14 first-half minutes killed off the hosts' slim chances following the Spanish side's 3-0 first leg win at the Nou Camp last week over their former coach Pep Guardiola's team.

The Spaniards are now one victory away from triumphing in each of the three titles they are chasing including a domestic league and Cup double and the Champions League where they will play in the showpiece game in Berlin on June 6.

Neymar was twice picked out by striker Luis Suarez, after Bayern's seventh minute lead through Medhi Benatia had briefly reignited the Germans' hopes.

Bayern struck back with second-half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Mueller but were still left needing another three to qualify for the showpiece match.

"We are where we want to be each year, one step from winning everything, and we'll try to take that step," Barca midfielder Andres Iniesta said.

"We can't stop now, we can't be satisfied with what we have achieved already, because in the end the titles are what count and it would be incredible for the fans and the team."

Barcelona, into an eighth European Cup final, will make their first appearance since 2011, when they won the trophy under Guardiola.

It was Barca's first Champions League away defeat this term as Bayern ended a four-game losing run in all competitions, but Guardiola's aura of invincibility has been hit after he failed for the second season to reach the final with the German club.

EARLY GOAL

Barcelona almost got a goal after five minutes through Ivan Rakitic but Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer palmed the Croat's shot wide at full stretch.

Two minutes later Bayern got the early goal they needed when Benatia was left completely unmarked to head home.

The Spaniards survived some intense pressure and responded in style when Lionel Messi, pulling the strings from a deep position, sent Uruguayan Suarez through to feed Neymar for an easy tap in after a dazzling South American combination.

Neymar all but ended Bayern's hopes by drilling a low shot home in the 29th after Suarez's cross from the right, with the hosts going into the break needing five goals to advance.

Barcelona eased off in the second half, losing Suarez substituted to a minor muscle problem, and Bayern's Robert Lewandowski notched an equaliser just before the hour, shaking off Javier Mascherano and sending Ter Stegen the wrong way.

Mueller added another in the 74th but it was too little too late for the home side, who were missing several key players, including injured wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

"As a player you always believe and we had incredible support." said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm. "We gave everything and showed the will. Maybe the last two minutes in Barcelona cost us dearly (when they conceded the third goal)."

(Reporting by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bayern need Munich miracle to deny Barcelona

MUNICH, Germany -- Pep Guardiola has promised embattled Bayern Munich will put up a fight in Tuesday's Champions League semi-final, second-leg, in their near-impossible bid to deny Barcelona an eighth final appearance.

Bayern are chasing a miracle at the Allianz Arena after their humbling 3-0 first-leg defeat at the Camp Nou last Wednesday when Lionel Messi capped a dazzling display with two goals.

No team has ever over-turned a three-goal deficit in a European semi-final.

"We all know it's going to be a mammoth task, but we're not going to give up," said Bayern forward Thomas Mueller.

Bayern believe they can claim a historic win with Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger suggesting: "Sometimes unbelievable things happen in football and we hope we're going to catch one of those days".

But their confidence has been dented by losing their last four games since winning the German league for the 25th time a fortnight ago and the losing streak is their longest since 1991.

In Saturday's latest defeat, Bayern crashed 1-0 at home to neighbours Augsburg and had to play 77 minutes with ten-men after reserve goalkeeper Pepe Reina was sent off.

Having also lost 2-0 at Leverkusen the previous week before their drubbing in Barcelona, it is the first time Bayern have failed to score in three consecutive games for 15 years.

- 'We'll fight to the end' -

But Bayern coach Guardiola, a former Barcelona boss, insists his side must keep their dreams alive.

"I am realistic, that is the only way you can win," said the Spaniard, who has warned his side they risk being routed unless they contain Barcelona's star-studded attack.

"The dream is still there and we have 90 minutes. It won't be easy, but I am a fighter."

In contrast, Barca are in fine form having scored 19 goals in their last four games.

They are poised to win the Spanish league title after beating David Moyes's Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday which left them four points ahead of rivals Real Madrid.

Brazil star Neymar has now scored in each of his last six matches to take his tally for the season to 35, while Barca have now not conceded for seven straight games.

But Barca coach Luis Enrique refuses to believe Bayern will bow out of Europe without a fight.

"I saw it (the defeat against Augsburg). They lost, but they played 70 minutes with 10 men. We will suffer a lot in Munich," said the Barca boss.

"They are a unique opponent, who know what it is like to turn around important matches already this season.

"We will never think that it is done, nor even that it looks very good for us. We need to defend as far away from our goal as possible."

One ray of hope, as Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer put it, is the fact Guardiola's side emphatically turned their 3-1 quarter-final, first-leg defeat at Porto into a 6-1 rout in Munich with five goals in the opening 45 minutes.

But in-form Barca are a different proposition after Messi dazzled in the first leg with two goals and an assist for Neymar's 94th-minute goal.

"We have to give our all. We have showed many times how well we can perform in Munich," said Bayern's top-scorer Robert Lewandowski, who will again play with a protective mask after fracturing his nose and cheekbone nearly two weeks ago.

"It's not yet over and we'll fight to the end."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bayern hold upper hand after 1-1 draw at United

MANCHESTER, England - Holders Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at a resilient Manchester United on Tuesday but remain favorites to clinch their Champions League quarter-final despite losing Bastian Schweinsteiger to a red card.

Bayern played the last few minutes at Old Trafford with 10 men after Schweinsteiger, who scored their equaliser in the 67th minute, got a second booking for tripping Wayne Rooney, ruling him out of next Wednesday's second leg at the Allianz Arena.

Schweinsteiger's superbly taken first-time lash into the roof of David De Gea's net came nine minutes after United skipper Nemanja Vidic stretched to clinically head a Rooney corner past stranded goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 58th.

"Congratulations to the team," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola told reporters. "I am satisfied because Manchester United is one of the best teams in the world and that is something we should not forget.

"The away goal is extremely important even though the 1-1 can be tricky. We will try to win the return leg and I have full confidence in my players," added the Spaniard whos team are still on track to repeat the treble they claimed last season.

United's performance was in stark contrast to their recent 3-0 home defeats by arch-rivals Liverpool and Manchester City in a lacklustre Premier League campaign.

Although the draw ended United's run of four straight Champions League home wins this season, it was a huge improvement on much of their domestic league form which has left them stranded in seventh place in the table.

Manager David Moyes, who has endured a tough baptism this season after taking over from the retired Alex Ferguson, had said his main wish was to have a foothold in the tie going into the second leg and he was encourged by United's performance.

"I was really pleased with the way we played there was a great atmosphere a great crowd, it was really gutsy, " he told ITV Sport.

"There was a real determination tonight to make sure we did well. Its a competition we have a really good history in, and we played a really good side tonight."

With Schweinsteiger and defender Javi Martinez now suspended for the return, Moyes was asked if he had more belief in winning next week against a side who retained their domestic title with seven matches left and are in the German Cup semi-finals.

"Well we have to score a goal because if the score stays as it is, Bayern goes through and we have to do something about it.

"We said we wanted to go into the second leg with a real chance and we have done that. We have given ourselves a real opportunity. We will go to Munich and try and get a victory."

BAYERN SUCCESS

Bayern had won their last four matches on English soil in the last 13 months, including two wins at Arsenal, a victory at Manchester City and success in last season's Champions League final when they beat Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.

After a scare when United's Danny Welbeck saw a goal ruled out after five minutes for raising his foot too high, Bayern looked capable of extending that winning run, and taking their overall Champions League away record to eight successive wins.

They established a grip on the game, creating seven scoring chances in the opening 35 minutes, as defenders David Alaba and Rafinha poured forward to support the attack and they looked sharper to the ball than the home side.

But, for once, the German side, who had scored in their last 60 matches in all competitions, appeared to have lost their cutting edge in front of goal.

The best of those first-half efforts came after 31 minutes when winger Arjen Robben was allowed too much space and De Gea had to dive full length to beat away his inswinging shot.

Despite being overrun by Bayern's attacking momentum, United had the best chance before the break when Rooney found fellow England striker Welbeck with a low through ball after 40 minutes which Bayern defender Jerome Boateng attempted to block but fell over instead.

That allowed Welbeck time and space to beat Neuer but his weak chip gave the keeper the chance to paw the ball safely away.

Ryan Giggs, making his 141st Champions League appearance, one short of Raul's record, suffered a groin injury and had to be replaced by Shinji Kagawa at halftime.

The enterprising Japanese midfielder, who never lost to Bayern when he was at Dortmund, caused the visitors plenty of problems with some intelligent runs and passes.

From one of them United won a corner which Rooney swept into the box. The ball went slightly behind the incoming but unmarked Vidic who turned his head to nod past Neuer for his first goal in Europe for more than five years.

United only led for nine minutes though before Schweinsteiger replied.

Dutchman Robben came close to a late goal for Bayern but, despite only drawing, the tie is balanced in their favour before as they prepare for the return in Germany next week without Schweinsteiger and Martinez.

(Reporting by Mike Collett; editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com