Wake-up call

Bundesliga 11, La Liga 3. “Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win.” Former England star Gary Lineker, the owner of the famous quote, might be tempted to replace “the Germans” with “the German clubs” now. Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich have completed the formalities in the second leg of the semifinals to set up an all-German final in the Champions League.

Dortmund sealed a berth under dramatic circumstances thanks to a stirring Real rally while Bayern cantered to a 7-0 aggregate win over the once invincible Barcelona. Borussia CEO admitted to taking refuge in a Bernabeu toilet, unable to withstand the late fightback from the hosts. At the Nou Camp, however, the home team couldn’t conjure any magic as they leaked three second-half goals. The Bayern vs Barca matchup over two legs was as good as machine gun vs machete. To call it a “battle” would be

singularly insulting to the word that indicates fierce competition. It was more of Bayern’s march towards Wembley than an actual match.

Barca defender Gerard Pique called the humiliating drubbing the worst of his career. He was at least on the ball off the field. Barca have never suffered such crushing back-to-back defeats in recent memory. Watching them play on Wednesday night was as enjoyable as an economics lecture. The Messi-less Barca were at the mercy of the rampaging Bayern.

The Catalan club were jaded and clueless. The absence of Messi was a factor but even the Argentinian might not have been able to rescue the sinking ship that was Barcelona in the semifinals. Bayern were so good that they made Barca look so bad. But the Spanish giants, universally loved for their bewitching short, passing game, would be digging their own grave if they don’t address some pivotal issues.

First of all, they must have a Plan B if their preferred route on the ground is blocked. Now they live by tiki-taka and also die by the same method. Against teams that defend smartly by closing down spaces, aerial power and using the width of the pitch become critical. Barring a Pique here and a Busquets there, all other Barcelona players are vertically challenged to pose any threat in the air. Barca have so much belief in their own style that they seem to shun the other ways of scoring goals. Winning ugly isn’t a crime

sometimes. Barca must have a Plan B if their preferred route on

the ground is blocked. Now they live by tiki-taka and also die by the same method