Bayern Munich once again went out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage after a 5-3 aggregate loss against Barcelona.
They were knocked out despite managing a 3-2 win in the second leg. The reason for this exit has been put down by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to the disastrous final 15 minutes in the first leg. After having contained Barcelona for almost 75 minutes, Bayern Munich’s defence disappeared for the final 15 and the match ended up in becoming a 3-0 thrashing for Guardiola’s team. Pep Guardiola was returning to the Camp Nou for the first time since leaving the club.
Bayern needed to win by a considerable margin in order to have any hope of going into the Champions League final. This was always going to be difficult against a Barcelona team that was extremely good in attack. It proved to be the case after the likes of Neymar once again scored to help the Catalan club reach yet another Champions League final. Even though the likes of Thomas Müller scored to give Bayern a victory, it was not sufficient on the aggregate count. Neuer says that by and would have easily been playing in this season’s Champions League final had it not been for the lapse in concentration towards the end of the first leg.
“Of course it’s disappointing when you consider what happened in Munich.We didn’t lose faith after the first leg – we put in an improved performance on Tuesday and beat Barca at home.Nobody can complain at us anymore. Perhaps we should be annoyed about the goals we conceded as we let in five over the two games.The final 15 minutes in Barcelona was the crucial point in the tie. That’s why we didn’t reach the final,” said the German goalkeeper after the exit.