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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LilacWine

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'.
T U

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

Viva Barca!!!
Jan

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.
LilacWine

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.
Rob

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.
LilacWine

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.
LilacWine

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.
Tanuj Lakhina

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.
Guest

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

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.
Tajh

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.
Foreverzidane

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!
Joey

Lahm is unfit.
Al

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
Tony

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

bayern experienced absolute rape
Rob

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.