By CARL SETTERLUND
When FC Porto topped Bayern Munich, 3-1, in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal matchup last week, it seemed like the German giants were on the ropes — but really, they just got angry.
Bayern returned the favor, and then some, on Tuesday at Allianz Arena, punishing Porto in a 6-1 victory that sent Pep Guardiola’s crew through to the tournament’s semifinals by a 7-4 aggregate score.
The Bundesliga leaders peppered the Portuguese upstarts with 21 shots, including eight by Robert Lewandowski, who led all scorers with a brace.
Thomas Muller pitched in a goal and two assists, while Thiago Alcantara and Jerome Boateng both headed one home in the first half. Bayern led, 5-0, at halftime before Xabi Alonso completed the scoring off a free kick in the 88th minute.
Meanwhile, southwest at the Camp Nou, Barcelona rode a Neymar brace to a 2-0 win over Paris-Saint Germain. The Ligue 1 champions couldn’t live up to their billing, as Barca won by multiple goals in both legs to pull away for 5-1 aggregate score.
Neymar sent the hosts ahead in the 14th minute on Tuesday, but Andres Iniesta deserved much of the credit after dribbling straight through the PSG defense to play Neymar in on a through ball. Dani Alves picked up the assist on Neymar’s 34th-minute headed goal, providing a right side cross into the box.
Bayern Munich also did much of its scoring early on. The Bavarians’ first three goals all came on headers, including Lewandowski’s opening tally to make it 3-0 in the 27th minute.
Germans already led on aggregate by that point, but Muller tucked in a long, low shot inside the right post in the 36th minute. Lewandowski sent on inside the left post just four minutes later to complete a stretch of five goals in 26 minutes. Muller provided the assist on both of Lewandowski’s goals.
Jackson Martinez headed one in from a yard or two out in the 73rd minute, but it was too little, too late for the Portuguese side. Tuesday marked the end of an impressive run by Porto, which went 6-0-3 in its first nine games of the tournament.
The UCL semifinal draw will take place on Friday, with the semifinal first legs to follow on May 5.
Juventus currently leads AS Monaco, 1-0, heading into their quarterfinal second leg on Wednesday, while Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are deadlocked at 0-0 going into their showdown at the Estadio Bernabeu.
What did you think of today’s UCL action? What impressed you most about Bayern’s performance?
Bayern, Barcelona and Real have been a lock for the CL semi-finals over the last several years. The true dominators of European football.
Real faces a tricky game v. Atleti tomorrow.
Barca-Bayern would make for a great final!!!
Actually, I can’t decide if I would prefer the Barca/Bayern game in a 2 leg semifinals or a single game final. Right now, I think I would love to see them play twice in the semifinals. 180 mins of beautiful soccer.
Definitely the three best teams in Europe over the past several years and it shows in the CL results. RM is no shoe-in to make it today though. AM can go through with a score draw. I think RM will go through but it wouldn’t shock me if they didn’t.
Will be nice to see how Bayern plays with Robben, Ribery, Schweinsteiger, Alaba, Martinez and Benatia.
PS: Robert Lewandowski, not Mark Lewandowski.
Bayern terrifies me