FC Bayern sweep aside FC Porto to reach semi-finals

FC Bayern München are through to the semi finals of the Champions League for the fourth consecutive year after a sensational first half performance. The German champions were relentless in their quarter final second leg match, winning 6-1 on the night. Headed goals from Thiago, Jerome Boateng and Robert Lewandowski, a deflected shot from Thomas Müller and another goal from Lewandowski in the first half more than made up for the 3-1 defeat in Portugal. After Porto’s late consolation goal, Xabi Alonso wrapped up the victory with a delightful free kick.

With so many absentees before the match, the FC Bayern team almost picked itself. Manager Pep Guardiola made just one change to the team that faced Porto in the first leg: Holger Badstuber returned to the team as expected for Dante, who had a tricky time against Porto last week and again against Hoffenheim on Saturday.

Thiago opens the floodgates

It was business as usual from the start for Bayern. Phillip Lahm played almost as a right winger. Although Porto tried to play aggressive from early on, in order to disrupt the hosts build-up play, the Munich side were clearly the superior side from the off. Mainly because the Portuguese played a lot deeper this time around, but also because Bayern were visibly a lot more determined going forward than they were in the first leg.

It took just ten minutes before the Munich crowd were almost cheering a goal. Thomas Müller broke with a 40-yard sprint before firing a shot on goal. Porto’s goalkeeper Fabiano kept it out but could only parry it to Lewandowski, whose follow-up shot hit the inside of the post. Just four minutes later, the Allianz Arena erupted as Thiago headed in from Juan Bernat’s cross to give Bayern the deserved lead.

World Champions Boateng and Müller score

Porto, who were so convincing and confident in the first leg, seemed visibly stunned as FC Bayern, who weren’t letting themselves get too excited in their celebrations, knuckled down in pursuit of another goal. It was perfectly clear that Bayern were far superior than their rattled guests: Boateng nodded in from a corner, before Lewandowski, again with his head, added the game’s third after a some stunning link-up play from Thiago, Lahm and Müller.

Müller capped it off with his 27th Champions League goal to make him the leading German goalscorer in the competition, before Lewandowski scored his second, nutmegging Maicon in the process.

Xabi Alonso wraps it up

Bayern continued their domination of the demoralised guest in the second half, without much effort. Mario Götze almost scored immediately after the break with a volleyed shot, as did Xabi Alonso with a free kick ten minutes later, but the sixth goal continued to evade them.

Jackson Martinez scored a consolation goal for Porto after 73 minutes and had the chance to score another shortly after, but his shot brushed wide of the post. Lewandowski followed up with a similarly close effort immediately afterwards, but it was Xabi Alonso who would eventually add Bayern’s sixth. Porto’s Ivan Marco received a second yellow card for a challenge on Thiago and Xabi Alonso curled the resulting corner effortlessly past the helpless Porto keeper.

After the disaster in Porto last week, FC Bayern responded with a sensational performance to fire them into Friday’s semi final draw. Meanwhile, Germany keeper Marc-André ter Stegen’s FC Barcelona are also through to the semi final, having beaten PSG 2-0 on the night and 5-1 on aggregate. Two goals from Brazilian superstar Neymar were enough to see of the Parisian side in Camp Nou this evening.