The games in mid-week ended with bad results for two of the favourite Spanish football teams from La Liga. Both of the Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have lost the first leg of their Champion's League semi-finals. It was Barcelona up first and with the likes of star striker Lionel Messi playing a full 90 minutes we would have expected a fantastic show against Bayern Munich. However it did not turn out that way and Barcelona ended up losing 4-0 to. The German side played fantastically all the way through, their squad consisted of players such as Robben, Ribery, Gomez and Muller while Barcelona one of the best Spanish football teams ever played with most of their first team players, Messi, Pedro, Xavi, and Iniesta. The match was held at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday night. There are a total four teams left trying to reach the Champion's League final, these being Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund. That leaves two Spanish football teams and two German football teams.
Many though it would end up an 'El Clasico' final between the two Spanish football teams but the results from the first leg tell us something else. From the off Munich played great, there first goal came from Mueller in the 25th minute, next to score was Gomez just after half time in the 49th minute, then Robben made it three before Mueller grabbed his second in the 73rd minute. Although the goals stopped there Barcelona could not find the net to pull one back, Messi did not look himself, whether he is not fully recovered after his injury and was rushed back in we don't know. He was bought on for Cesc Fabregas in the 62nd minute when they played against Paris Saint Germain and failed to score then too. Jupp Heynckes, Bayern's manager could not describe how proud he was of his team. In the second leg which will take place at Barcelona's home ground in the Nou Camp they go in with a 4-0 advantage and Barcelona have to score 5 goals or more to go through to the final which could be against Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund. This sounds a very big challenge but it has been done in the past.
The second leg between Barcelona and Bayern Munich will be on Wednesday 1st May, they will be hoping to pull back the goals so they get their shot at the final. Moving on to the other mid-week match, it was one of the other Spanish football teams to lose and to four goals once again. Real Madrid's match against Borussia Dortmund ended 4-1 to the German side with all four goals from the same player. Robert Lewandowski stole the show as he netted four past Diego Lopez as a sloppy Real Madrid team only managed one and that came from their best player Christiano Ronaldo. Lewandowski has become the first player ever to have scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid in the Champion's League, this has also been Jose Mourinho's biggest defeat in 106 Champion's League games. Many football teams have been closely monitoring 24 year old Robert Lewandowski with Manchester United and Bayern Munich meant to be favourites.
Munich have just announced a 32 million deal for 20 year old Mario Gotze, he will arrive at Bayern Munich at the same time as former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola at the start of July. Real Madrid will be glad to be back at the Bernabeu, their home ground as they take on Borussia Dortmund in the second leg and if they win 3-0 they will go through on away goals. There is still hope for the two Spanish teams and playing at their home grounds will be a big advantage. The fans will get behind them and we expect a great atmosphere.
Emily Millington writes exclusive articles for Soccer Box. If you still support your favourite team from La Liga show your support now and get your shirt from this amazing range of Spanish football shirts.
Is it still possible that we may reach an El Clasico final? Or will it be an all German final?
Do you think the limelight will move over to the Bundesliga and focus on the German teams with their recent success in cups and the league or do you think the support for the Spanish football teams and the likes of Ronaldo and Messi is too much? We would love to hear from you.