Should We Just Give the Champions League Trophy to Barcelona Now?

By: Daryl | April 8th, 2009

Most of us expected Barcelona to beat Bayern. But we didn’t expect them to decide a 180 minute tie inside the first 45. For some reason Jurgen Klinsmann thought putting Christian Lell up against Leo Messi was a fair fight, and the rest is history.

Leo Messi, Samuel Eto’o, Messi again and then Thierry Henry had this all wrapped up for Barca before half-time at the Camp Nou. 4-0 and good night. The second leg in Bavaria is now a formality (will be interesting to see how many Bayern fans turn up) and Jurgen Klinsmann might soon be looking for employment.


Meanwhile, Liverpool and Chelsea remembered that football is better with goals. Their ten millionth Champions League meeting didn’t produce the expected glut of goalless inaction, but a surprise 3-1 away win for Chelsea instead:

Fernando Torres put Liverpool 1-0 up after just five minutes, but Chelsea’s young(ish) defender Branislav Ivanovic got two headed goals for Chelsea, and Drogba added a third.

This tie is far from over though, for two reasons: 1. John Terry will be suspended for the second leg after Zidaneing Pepe Reina in midair, and 2. This is Liverpool we’re talking about. Comebacks are their specialty.

But given the display Barca put on tonight – which according to Rob’s LiveBlog was as impressive at the back as it was going forward (even Thierry Henry was tracking back) – should we just skip the rest of this season’s Champions League and hand Barca the trophy now?

There are six sets of fans who’d say no (plus maybe one overly optimistic Bayern fan) but right now everything points to Barcelona. They’ve scored a spectacular 126 goals in all competitions so far this season, and have the massive advantage of being able to relax a little (but only a little) on the domestic front.



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Comments  

  • Rob |  April 8th, 2009 at 2:57 pm

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    I think on reflection the most striking thing about Barca is how hard the players work for each other. Henry tracking back was a great symbol of this – he saw players ganging up on Puyol and got back to tackle.

    Clearly whatever infighting was going on last time around has completely gone. They look such a complete side, I actually think it’ll be a bit of a travesty if they don’t win the CL. But stranger things have happened, I dare say.

    Posted from United States

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  • Gaston |  April 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pm

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    bayern experienced absolute rape

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Tony |  April 8th, 2009 at 3:07 pm

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    Ivanovic is 25, that’s not young, and yes, Liverpool are done, but Barca won’t win.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Al |  April 8th, 2009 at 3:18 pm

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    After seeing how solid Chelsea is, I don’t think Barca will be able to walk all over them too easy. That’s going to be a hell of a semifinal

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Joey |  April 8th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

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    Lahm is unfit.

    Posted from Singapore Singapore

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  • Foreverzidane |  April 8th, 2009 at 3:51 pm

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    As an Arsenal fan and a huge TiTi supporter I gotta repeat what Rob stated previously that everyone hustled including TiTi, and it was just an overwhelming carnage that Bayern will face again in Munich! No one ever thought that Barca would be dominating in this fashion. My hat off to the coaching staff, the trainers for having such a polished, poised, and in shape players who attacked for 90 minutes. What a treat you spoiled Barca fans!

    Posted from United States

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  • Tajh |  April 8th, 2009 at 4:09 pm

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    Hmmmmm Barca is finally gettin our respect for this season….but this season is far from over and we have not won anything yet so we the Barca fans will not be carried away….well not now at least.

    Posted from United States United States

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  • Jack |  April 8th, 2009 at 4:11 pm

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    I must’ve been the only one that saw a beating in that Barca-Bayern tie.

    And, no, that trophy is still up for grabs.

    Posted from United States

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  • Shadi |  April 8th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

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    as a Bayern fan I have one comment : FCUK Karma !

    Posted from United States

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  • Tanuj Lakhina |  April 8th, 2009 at 4:28 pm

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    It’d be too soon to say that the title is done and dusted for Barcelona(Champions league or La Liga).They were totally fabulous tonight and deserved the win and Bayern deserved the ‘rape’. Coming from a Madrid fan,I hope they continue in the Champions league and wobble in the league.Hope.

    Posted from United States

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  • LilacWine |  April 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

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    Don’t forget Chelsea beat Liverpool 3-1 AWAY. I would easily equate beating Bayern 4-0 at Nou Camp to beating the Scousers 3-1 at Anfield – this is not a cakewalk for Barca by any means! Chelsea always has something to prove when playing Barca too, so I wouldn’t bet the mortgage on this one.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • LilacWine |  April 8th, 2009 at 5:03 pm

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    No to mention that Liverpool are (well…were) in top form, while Bayern were missing Lahm, their first-choice keeper didn’t feature and they are on an absolutely rotten run of form.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • Rob |  April 8th, 2009 at 5:22 pm

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    Bayern aren’t on a bad run of form at all. If you discount the loss on Saturday, they had only lost one of their previous seven games.

    Posted from United States

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  • LilacWine |  April 8th, 2009 at 5:31 pm

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    I wouldn’t discount a humiliating 5-1 defeat to Wolfsburg though. They haven’t looked up for it for a while. Shame, since they battered Sporting so effectively.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • Jan |  April 8th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

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    If you discount all their losses Bayern are still unbeaten in 2009. If you count them then they have lost 4 out of 8 Bundesliga matches and were knocked out of the DFB-Pokal.

    Posted from Germany Germany

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  • T U |  April 9th, 2009 at 10:33 am

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    Get over it… Barca completely dominated Bayern. Just give us the trophy and stop trying to make excuses!

    Viva Barca!!!

    Posted from United States United States

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  • LilacWine |  April 9th, 2009 at 11:41 am

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    Yes, well considering that Barca-Bayern was a quarterfinal match and not a the final, I vote we play out the rest of the tourney.
    In fact, I clearly remember Euro 2008 when everyone had the conceded the trophy to the seemingly unstoppable Dutch. That is, until one Guus Hiddink and his team of merry men came along… Just sayin’.

    Posted from Canada Canada

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  • kataloni |  April 11th, 2009 at 8:07 am

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    here u can find what u r lookinf for about fc barcelona videos,,gallery and latest highlights
    http://www.fcbarcelonavids.com

    Posted from Kuwait Kuwait

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  • kataloni |  April 14th, 2009 at 2:32 am

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    come on guys here u can find latest news,,highlights,videos and gallery about fc barcelona
    http://www.fcbarcelonavids.com

    Posted from United States

    cornercorner

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