Champions League - Draw sees Barca go through

Eurosport - Wed, 15 Apr 09:04:00 2009

Bayern were held to a 1-1 draw by Barcelona in their Champions League quarter final second leg at the Allianz Arena, with the Spanish side going through 5-1 on aggregate.

FOOTBALL Franck Ribery Gerard Pique Barcelona Bayern - 0

Franck Ribery gave Juergen Klinsmann's side a faint hope with a coolly taken goal in the 47th minute, sending Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes to ground with a smart dummy, before lifting the ball over him into the top corner.

But Seydou Keita unleashed a 73rd-minute piledriver to level the scores on the night and send Pep Guardiola's side through after a slick exchange between Samuel Eto'o and Andres Iniesta inside the Bayern box.

Barcelona were good value for regaining parity after extended spells of possession in which the German side had no answer to their opponent's tight control and quick passing in around their box.

Thierry Henry did not recover sufficiently from a virus to be given a starting berth, with the Frenchman confined to the bench, but Barcelona did not miss having another forward, holding a 4-0 aggregate lead from the first leg.

But as early as the fifth minute, Bayern had an opportunity to get themselves back in the tie; Luca Toni missed a free header with the ball directed with pin-point precision by Jose Sosa from the right, and the Italian completely unmarked.

Then a minute later Toni was more clinical, firing his shot past Valdes from close-range, only to see the offside flag raised by the linesman as he was about to wheel away in celebration.

It was to be a frustrating night for the Italian, who was well contained by Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol, and found clean-cut chances limited after his earlier aberration.

Iniesta and Xavi were their usual inventive selves, and Iniesta foraged a path into the Bayern penalty area from the left wing, but his pass inside to Eto'o was mis-controlled by the striker, who squandered what would have been a decent shooting chance in the 20th minute.

A decent chance then presented itself to Eto'o again, who bustled his way through on goal, but just as he looked to slot his shot past Hans-Joerg Butt, Phillip Lahm made a good sliding block.

In the 40th minute, Ribery cut inside to collect a pass from Ze Roberto, before unleashing a fierce drive, but it narrowly drifted past Valdes's near post as the frustration grew around the Allianz Arena.

Four bookings reflected a scrappy and fragmented first half of football, but Bayern's urgency to get back into the tie could not be doubted; their composure in the final third was however lacking.

But Ribery showed what was required two minutes after the break; the winger collected a neat pass from Ze Roberto, before showing real composure in fooling Valdes by pretending to strike earlier, before crisply placing his shot over the keeper's body.

Barcelona came close to equalising through Lionel Messi five minutes later, as a deep ball from Daniel Alves almost found the forward at the back post, but Lucio somehow cleared from under him.

A minute later, Iniesta went down in the Bayern box looking for a penalty, but the referee waved play on, with Christian Lell left looking bewildered by the Barcelona midfielder's antics.

An impeccably-timed sliding tackle from the excellent Lucio denied Eto'o from equalising as the striker was about to shoot from inside the Bayern box as the home side held on valiantly to their lead.

The Brazilian defender was an immense presence at the back for the hosts, with a string of fine challenges and a combination of power and pace which left Eto'o without many opportunities in front of goal.

But it was not to last, as Barcelona finally got the goal their possession deserved: Keita, who was loitering on the edge of the box, unleashed a thunderous drive from the edge of the box after neat play from Iniesta and Eto'o to level the scores in the 73rd minute.

As full-time drew closer, both managers made a changes, but it was too late for Klinsmann and his Bayern side, who will be left to rue their thrashing in the first leg at the Nou Camp.

Guardiola's Barcelona will now face Chelsea in the semi-finals.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 22 - 41 of 41

Sort comments by: Most recent
  1. good games

    From Jason, on Wed 15 Apr 4:06PM
  2. I expected more from Bayern...
    Chelsea will trash the­ catalan tossers :D

    From Nikolay, on Wed 15 Apr 7:16AM
  3. Barca way too strong, Bayern way too @#$% defensively;­ Bayern's only quality player is Ribery, the­ supporting cast not up to standard incl (sadly) Klinsy

    From ispurs, on Wed 15 Apr 6:46AM
  4. Bit off topic....but if you are a fan of­­­ football....please take a thought for the 96 who went­­­ to watch a game of footie....like most of us do at a­­­ weekend....only they never went home...at six minutes­­­ past three this afternoon please have a thought for­­­ those that went to watch a game....and never made it­­­ home.... XX JUSTICE FOR THE 96 XX YNWA

    From michellehoy, on Wed 15 Apr 6:34AM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    most people think that Barca is the favourite to win­ CL­ but it doesn't mean Chelsea is unable to win­­ against Barca. this is football anything can­ happen..yup..
    english club­ rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Hafis Khalid, on Wed 15 Apr 2:21AM
  6. Another match down 2 more to go till we pack our bags­ for Rome...

    From carlos c, on Wed 15 Apr 12:45AM
  7. wont get space and poor defending like that against the­ english sides, come on chelsea!!!

    From Scott, on Tue 14 Apr 11:50PM
  8. There's a big cracker ahead of u guys.Be wise if­ not...

    From nonjosey, on Tue 14 Apr 10:58PM
  9. Barca = class. The bookies should pay out now

    From , on Tue 14 Apr 10:52PM
  10. nice to advance without losing. up barca! wonderful­ goal from keita

    From Varnavas P, on Tue 14 Apr 10:39PM
  11. most people think that Barca is the favourite to win CL­ but it doesn't mean Chelsea is unable to win­ against Barca. this is football anything can happen

    From blues837, on Tue 14 Apr 10:29PM
  12. haba 4 goals at home .shame

    From jordan, on Tue 14 Apr 10:15PM
  13. its 5-1 on aggregate

    From nizar, on Tue 14 Apr 10:06PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well done chelsea .

    From s.coleman972, on Tue 14 Apr 10:06PM
  15. student ar yet to be released as grown ups­ ,,,.........bayern ur still in class having told how to­ play ,ur ar still at thy trainning cought since this­ barc is not thy chicks to thing of thy win agianist­ then .GOD help this barc to b thy winner of this game­ with more than 3 goals....amen???

    From Stanley, on Tue 14 Apr 6:54PM
  16. cooooom on bayern u can do it do the best com back of­ all times bring on podolski

    From remizenelaj, on Tue 14 Apr 6:21PM
  17. i love you bayern anyway. you must improve tonight what­ r u capable to do with your angry...GOD bless you­ bayern...

    From eloidagoxhi, on Tue 14 Apr 1:47PM
  18. frangpl_1964. Too bad you spelt 'write' as­ 'wrigt'. Your looking quite stupid now.

    From Dhritiman, on Tue 14 Apr 10:46AM
  19. The damage was done in Barcalona. I dont think Barca­ are 4 goals better than Bayern- but some sloppy­ defending cost Munich dearly, which is a pity because­ if the score had been closer then tonights match would­ have been a cracker- but thats football eh?

    From u2fns, on Tue 14 Apr 10:41AM
  20. Go Go Go Barca!!!

    From pimp p, on Tue 14 Apr 9:11AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account