Messi nets twice as Barcelona hammer Bayern
Friday, 10 April 2009
BARCELONA, Apr 9 (Reuters): Barcelona produced a stunning display of attacking football to overwhelm Bayern Munich 4-0 in their Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Nou Camp Wednesday.
All the goals came in a thrilling first half, Lionel Messi netting twice and Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry once each as the Primera Liga leaders took firm control of the tie ahead of the second leg Tuesday.
Bayern had no answer to Barca's pace and slick passing and the Catalans took the lead in the ninth minute when Eto'o slipped the ball through to Messi and he clipped a precise, low shot past Hans Joerg Butt.
Messi returned the favour soon after, releasing the Cameroon international on the right of the area to fire between Butt's legs into the far corner.
Henry created the third in the 38th minute with a burst of pace that took him past Massimo Oddo and Messi, who also had a shot tipped on to the bar in the second half, turned his low cross high into the net.
Messi and Eto'o were again involved in the build-up to the fourth goal and when the ball fell to Henry on the left of the penalty area it was a simple task for the French international to sidefoot the ball past a stranded Butt two minutes before halftime.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said the key to his side's emphatic win had been their ability to shut out Bayern playmaker Franck Ribery and striker Luca Toni and maintain control of the ball so effectively.
"I was pleased with every aspect of our play and I get goose bumps when I see how hard my players are working," he said at a news conference.
"But it's just the first leg of the quarter-finals and we need to keep our feet on the ground and try to score one or two goals in the return leg."
Bayern were missing central defenders Lucio and Daniel van Buyten, left back Philipp Lahm and striker Miroslav Klose and the Bavarians rarely threatened Victor Valdes in the Barca goal.
All the goals came in a thrilling first half, Lionel Messi netting twice and Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry once each as the Primera Liga leaders took firm control of the tie ahead of the second leg Tuesday.
Bayern had no answer to Barca's pace and slick passing and the Catalans took the lead in the ninth minute when Eto'o slipped the ball through to Messi and he clipped a precise, low shot past Hans Joerg Butt.
Messi returned the favour soon after, releasing the Cameroon international on the right of the area to fire between Butt's legs into the far corner.
Henry created the third in the 38th minute with a burst of pace that took him past Massimo Oddo and Messi, who also had a shot tipped on to the bar in the second half, turned his low cross high into the net.
Messi and Eto'o were again involved in the build-up to the fourth goal and when the ball fell to Henry on the left of the penalty area it was a simple task for the French international to sidefoot the ball past a stranded Butt two minutes before halftime.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said the key to his side's emphatic win had been their ability to shut out Bayern playmaker Franck Ribery and striker Luca Toni and maintain control of the ball so effectively.
"I was pleased with every aspect of our play and I get goose bumps when I see how hard my players are working," he said at a news conference.
"But it's just the first leg of the quarter-finals and we need to keep our feet on the ground and try to score one or two goals in the return leg."
Bayern were missing central defenders Lucio and Daniel van Buyten, left back Philipp Lahm and striker Miroslav Klose and the Bavarians rarely threatened Victor Valdes in the Barca goal.