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News Archive

Champions League, semi-final, second leg

There will be an all-German final for the first time ever after Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 0-3 in the Nou Camp to clock up a humiliating 7-0 aggregate scoreline. With Messi not fit enough to start, this was always going to be an uphill battle, but when Robben beat Valdés to open the scoring early on in the second half it was all over. Piqué turned Ribéry's cross in to his own net a few minutes later and Müller headed a third, but by then Barcelona had given up. (01.05.13)

Real Madrid were just a goal short of turning around their semi-final tie against Borussia Dortmund, a 2-0 victory in the Bernabeu stadium not quite enough to overturn the 4-1 defeat from the first leg. Mourinho's side failed to convert several chances in the opening quarter of an hour, and although Benzema and Sergio Ramos both scored in the last ten minutes, the goals came too late to change the result. (30.04.13)

Barcelona 0 - Bayern Munich 3

There will be an all-German final for the first time ever after Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 0-3 in the Nou Camp to clock up a humiliating 7-0 aggregate scoreline. With Messi not fit enough to start, and Busquets, Puyol and Jordi Alba all out, the chances of overturning the 4-0 first leg defeat were more than remote. Once again though the German side looked the better of the two in the first half, and the only danger for Neuer's goal was a shot over the bar from Xavi. Messi didn't reappear for the second half either, and within three minutes it was all over, Robben picking up a long ball from midfield and cutting past Adriano before curling a shot past Valdés. Tito Vilanova gave up at that point and took off Xavi and Iniesta, and with twenty minutes to go the visitors went two up, Piqué deflecting the ball in to his own net with his knee trying to clear Ribéry's cross. Six minutes later Müller got above Bartra and Adriano on the far post to head in another Ribéry cross, and although Pedro, Bartra and Villa all tried for the late consolation, even that was beyond them against a defence which has only let in eight away goals all season. Barcelona's worst result ever in Europe, and although the domestic league title is all but tied up, their management has a lot of thinking to do this summer to try and get things back on track. (01.05.13)

Real Madrid 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0

Real Madrid were just a goal short of turning around their semi-final tie against Borussia Dortmund, a 2-0 victory in the Bernabeu stadium not quite enough to overturn the 4-1 defeat from the first leg. Mourinho's side failed to convert several chances in the opening quarter of an hour, Weidenfeller having to save from Higuaín and Ronaldo, and Ronaldo, Higuaín and Özil all wasting opportunities to score. Lewandowski, the four goal hero from the first leg, saw an effort saved by Diego López though, and five minutes after the restart the Polish striker fired a shot against the crossbar. Diego had to save from Gündogan and Lewandowski headed another chance wide as well as Dortmund began the second half with a flourish, but they sat back after that to protect their first leg lead. Di María, Ronaldo and Kaká all tried their luck, but it was not until eight minutes from the end that Benzema finally got on the end of Özil's cross to open the scoring. Six minutes later Sergio Ramos fired home a second after Benzema laid the ball back across goal, but although Ramos and Ronaldo both did their best after that, there was just not enough time left to get that third goal they needed. (30.04.13)