appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Reuters

Bayern Munich’s 6-1 demolition of Porto on Tuesday for a spot in the Uefa Champions League semi-finals was just what the doctor ordered for an injury-plagued team chasing a treble.
Despite a string of absences, including Arjen Robben, David Alaba, Franck Ribery and Medhi Benatia, and internal turmoil following the sudden departure of their long-time doctor, Bayern were sublime in the first half, scoring five times.
“It is difficult to find the right words to explain this,” Bayern’s Thomas Mueller, whose goal made him Germany’s all-time top scorer in the competition with 27, said. “It could not have worked better than it did.
“A lot was said before the game about us but to play such a first half is absolutely amazing.”
Bayern, with Bastian Schweinsteiger back from injury but left on the bench, struck three times in 13 minutes and added two more late in the first period to blow away the Portuguese and wipe out the 3-1 first-leg deficit.
“Now we can joke about it but it was a huge piece of work. When you’re with your back to the wall then sometimes that is a good thing,” Mueller said.
“There are times in a season when you win something from a game and that was one such game,” he added, referring to the confidence boost from such an important victory.
Bayern, who could clinch the Bundesliga title this weekend and are also in the German Cup semi-finals, are attempting to repeat their 2013 treble-winning season and add a sixth European crown to their collection of silverware.
Mueller’s teammate Robert Lewandowski, who scored twice on Tuesday, is confident the German side, eyeing their fourth Champions League final since 2010, were not done yet.
“We played an amazing game. It was a lot of hard work and a lot of people thought we could not make it,” said the Poland striker.
“But we can do everything now. We are still a strong team. We always want to step on the pedal no matter who we play. We want to win everything and we can do it.”
Porto coach Julen Lopetegui, a former teammate of Bayern coach Pep Guardiola, had steered his side to the last eight without losing a match and their 3-1 first leg victory over the German champions had left them brimming with confidence.
But despite the Bavarians’ numerous absences and pressure on coach Guardiola following the away defeat, twice European champions Porto were swept aside by a superior team.
“We are very disappointed because we had a lot of expectations,” Lopetegui said.
“But it just turned bad very early on and it became difficult for us to play our game against such a good team. We lost the game in those 20 minutes in the first half.”
“We tried to change things in the second half and I think we improved a bit but it was too late,” Lopetegui said.


Sealing place in Champions League last-16 can help turn season around, says Mourinho

Uefa ‘basically accept doping’ by not banning clubs, says Arsene Wenger

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri in high spirits despite Champions League defeat

Vampire history forgotten as Luis Suarez comes good for Barcelona’s European champions

Uefa Champions League 2014-15

Bayern Munich’s demolition job on Porto enhances treble dream

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski (second from left) celebrates a goal with his teammates. Photo: Xinhua


Xabi Alonso scores the sixth and final goal for Bayern. Photo: Reuters


Bayern's Thomas Mueller takes instructions from manager  Pep Guardiola. Photo: Xinhua

Porto's Jackson Martinez contemplates a bad night. Photo: Reuters
