The 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi, was simply stunning Barcelona’s 4-1 quarter-final second-leg triumph over Arsenal at the Nou Camp, scoring all four goals for the Spanish club who had to come from behind to win.
Messi’s performance was simply sublime prompting teammate Xavi to say: “Leo is on another level completely from every other player in the world. He is in a different class.
“If you are lucky, you might find a player like this coming along every quarter of a century. To hit four goals in a match like this is outrageous, marvellous.”
Subsequently, betting outlets across Europe have slashed Messi’s odds to win a second consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year.
Some journalists are even claiming if he guides Barcelona (and even Argentina at the World Cup) to titles later this year then he should be considered one of the all time greats.
And Barcelona’s chances of becoming back-to-back European champions have been increased by the exit of English heavyweights and last season’s beaten finalists Manchester United. Also bowing out in the final eight were French champions Bordeaux, Russians CSKA Moscow and the aforementioned Gunners.
Barcelona 4 Arsenal 1 Barcelona win 6-3 on aggregate
The story of the night was 22-year-old Lionel Messi’s brilliance and really his performance along suggests the Catalans can go all the way.
Messi drew praise from boss Josep Guardiola: “Leo was brilliant and he was decisive. You have to see it (the Messi phenomenon) - it is not something you can describe because you have to see it to believe it.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger echoed his sentiments: “For me, he is the best player in the world by a distance. We lost against a team that is better than us and has the best player in the world. Congratulations to Barcelona, they were better than us.”
Looking ahead, Guardiola added: “We have time to prepare for Inter. The group games [against Inter] were difficult. We are confident of playing good football and continuing to show that to Europe and the world.”
But surely Messi’s performance alone is enough to convince anyone that Barcelona, who will face Inter Milan in the semis, are hot favourites for the trophy.
CSKA Moscow 0 Inter Milan 1 Inter win 2-0 on aggregate
Italian champions Internazionale cruised into the semi-finals after a comfortable 2-0 aggregate victory over CSKA Moscow with star man Wesley Sneijder grabbing the only goal of the game early to practically settle the tie. It was a mature display which suggests Inter could trouble Barcelona (especially having won against Chelsea).
Inter boss Jose Mourinho said: “We have now won five games in a row in the Champions League and reaching the semi-finals is more than deserved. I can say that Inter’s fortunes in the Champions League have completely changed because now the team have the right mentality and confidence.
“Anything can happen now, we can win the trophy or not, but every time we enter the pitch in this competition it will be completely different compared to the past. The team has improved and matured, I hope we can continue on this path. We have two dreams, reaching the final and winning it.”
Looking ahead to the Barca tie, Mourinho said: “It’s important not to have players suspended in the first leg of the semi-final, even though our opponents will have the advantage of playing the return leg at home.”
And the Portuguese maestro finished off in his typical, dramatic style by claiming ‘the dream is still alive’.
Manchester United 3 Bayern Munich 2 Tie level 5-5 on aggregate’‘Bayern Munich win 6-5 on away goals’’
Ex-Chelsea man Arjen Robben struck the decisive goal after the Germans trailed 3-0 before half-time. The sending-off of United’s Rafael, though, left Sir Alex Ferguson fuming and he controversially labelled it a typical German act.
Ferguson eluded to the victors chances going ahead: “I don’t think the best team has won the tie, I think we played better tonight than they did.”
Bayern boss Louis van Gaal looked ahead: “I’d hoped to play Bordeaux next – after two defeats in the group stage I wanted revenge.
“I saw Lyon against Real Madrid and they were well-organised and a difficult team to beat but I’ve only been concerned with Manchester United these last two weeks. We have Leverkusen next and then we can think about Lyon.”
Bayern Munich have had a busy season, after a slow start, but things are going right for them now and it seems anything is possible and they should be happy with their side of the draw.
Bordeaux 1 Olympique Lyonnais 0 Lyon win 3-2 on aggregate
Indeed, Lyon will face Bayern Munich in their semi-final, with the OL getting the better of French champions Bordeaux on aggregate despite a 1-0 loss on Wednesday. Marouane Chamakh got the only goal of the game for Girondins, who bow out, with Lyon still alive and hoping to create history.
Lyon boss Claude Puel said: “Things finally turned in our favour. Hugo [Lloris] was the saviour at the end. Either team could have won, right until the end. The game was tough. We had the first-leg scoreline in our heads and didn’t play freely.
“Congratulations to the players, it was not easy. We dropped back in the first half but were better in the second. It was very tight. Lloris was decisive, he saved us in the last minute.”
Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc added: “One goal tonight could have been good enough for us. We must take lots of pride from tonight; what we produced in the second leg was good.”
It was a tight, hard-fought contest in the battle of the French clubs and Lyon will feel great about getting through, but another tough task awaits in Bayern. Still, Lyon have had a solid European campaign and could just keep going.
ECL Semi Finals
Inter Milan v FC Barcelona, 20 April Bayern Munich v Olympique Lyon, 21 April
Olympique Lyon v Bayern Munich, 27 April FC Barcelona v Inter Milan, 28 April