Porto crushed by Bayern

Porto crushed by Bayern

Bayern Munich 6-1 FC Porto (aggregate: 7-4)

Porto's hopes of making it to the semi-finals of the Champions League were shattered in 45 devastating minutes as Bayern Munich scored five first-half goals without reply against the Dragons at the Allianz Arena tonight. 

The Germans slowed down in the second half and Porto pulled a goal back through Jackson Martínez, but Xabi Alonso's late free kick meant the Blue and Whites equalled their worst-ever result in Europe. 

 

Despite being without regular full-backs Danilo and Alex Sandro, both suspended, hopes were high that Porto could pull off a memorable win over the Pep Guardiola's team after a superb performance in the first leg had been rewarded with a 3-1 victory

Passive attitude

Porto had enjoyed success that night thanks to a high-energy approach, full of intelligent pressing, belief and courage. None of those qualities were on show in a horrific opening half, with Bayern cutting through the visitors' defence with embarrassing ease. Bayern are one of Europe's best teams - perhaps the best of the lot - but it is difficult to escape the idea that Porto could have made things more difficult for the Bavarians. 

From the first whistle Bayern swarmed all over Porto, with Muller forcing Fabiano into an athletic save and Lewandowski hitting the rebound against the post in the 10th minute. The home supporters did not have long to wait to celebrate taking the lead, and the opening goal exemplified the passive nature of Porto's defending. Quaresma - who had done such a good job tracking back at the Dragão - made no attempt to close down Gotze, who had time and space to whip a dangerous cross into the box where Thiago Alcântara timed his jump to perfection and beat both centre-backs Maicon and Marcano, despite conceding height to both of them. 

The second goal on 22 minutes put Bayern ahead in the tie on away goals, and again Porto's defending left a lot to be desired as a looping header from a corner was seized upon by Boateng who outjumped two defenders and headed into the corner of the net, with Fabiano unable to keep it out despite its lack of power. 

Brilliant move

The third goal soon followed, but this time it was down to the brilliance of Bayern's play as Lahm, Gotze and Lewandowski constructed a wonderful move with some lovely one-touch football, the Pole heading powerfully into the net.

Porto were all at sea, Lopetegui replaced the hapless Reyes with Ricardo Pereria at right-back, but it made no difference as Muller's deflected shot in the 36th minute dribbled past Fabiano, addiding to the feeling that everything that could go wrong was going wrong for Porto, with the Portuguese side powerless to prevent the course of events. 

Lewandowski slotted in the fifth before half time, the striker afforded time and space inside the box to pick his spot. As the half-time whistle went, a shell-shocked set of Porto players must have feared how bad their night could get. 

Jackson consolation

Thankfully, the Germans took their foot of the pedal in the second half, allowing Porto to enjoy more possession. And when Jackson Martínez slotted in from close range on 73 minutes and then came close to scoring again shortly afterwards, Porto's fans may have entertained hopes of an unlikely twist. If Porto had scored again at that stage they would have been one goal from re-taking the lead in the tie. 

But it was Bayern who would score again. Marcano brought down the ever-dangerous Alcântara to earn a second yellow card and subsequent red, with Xabi Alonso striking a peach of a shot over the wall and into the corner of the net from the resulting free kick to end a miserable night for the Dragons. 

Julen Lopetegui now faces the huge task of picking up his players ahead of what is effectively the championship decider in Lisbon on Sunday against Benfica. 

by Tom Kundert 

Bayern Muinch: Neuer, Rafinha (Rode, 72'), Boateng, Badstuber, Bernat, Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Thiago (Dante, 90'), Götze (Weiser, 86'), Müller, Lewandowski 

Porto: Fabiano, Reyes (Ricardo Pereira, 33'), Maicon, Marcano, Martins Indi, Casemiro, Torres, Herrera, Brahimi (Evandro, 67'), Quaresma (Neves, 45'), Jackson Martínez

 

Goals:

[1-0] Alcântara, 14'

[2-0] Boetang, 22' 

[3-0] Lewandowski, 27'

[4-0] Muller, 36'

[5-0] Lewandowski, 40'

[5-1] Jackson Martínez, 73'

[6-1] Xabi Alonso, 88'