Bayern, Barça enjoy semi-final places
Robert Lewandowski scored twice on Tuesday as Bayern Munich powered into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the fourth year in succession with a 6-1 second-leg routing of ten-man Porto.
Needing to over turn a two-goal deficit after last Wednesday's shock 3-1 first-leg defeat at Porto, Bayern produced a devastating first-half display to claim five goals and eventually won the tie 7-4 on aggregate. Lewandowski now has 22 goals in all competitions while Muller, Jerome Boateng and Thiago Alcantara also grabbed first-half goals.
The game's tempo dropped after the break allowing Porto captain Jackson Martinez to score a consolation goal. Porto finished with ten men when defender Ivan Marcano received a second yellow card just before Xabi Alonso crashed home a free-kick -- their coach Julen Lopategui was also sent from the touchline.
The scoreline matches Porto's record away defeat in Europe when they lost 6-1 at AEK Athens in the defunct European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1978. Having routed Roma 7-1 away in the group stages and mauled Shakhtar Donestk 7-0 in Munich in the last 16, Bayern produced more clinical finishing in the first-half.
The Germans kept alive the dream of repeating their 2013 treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and DfB-Pokal crowns by going into Friday's semi-finals draw. They can pick up their first silverware of the season on Saturday if they beat Hertha Berlin at home to have the Bundesliga title confirmed for a third year running.
The victory was all the more impressive as it came without injured star wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, while Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger stayed on the bench. Bayern attacked from the outset, enjoying 75 per cent possession early on, and rarely allowed Porto into their half.
Lewandowski hit the woodwork with nine minutes gone and the opening goal came just five minutes later. Spain defender Juan Bernat, a constant threat on Bayern's left wing, swung in a corner and Thiago, who scored their away goal at Porto, headed home at the near post.
The crucial second goal came from Bayern's centre-backs as Holger Badstuber, in for Dante in the only change from the side who lost at Porto, headed on a corner and Boateng powered the ball home on 21 minutes. Lewandowski compounded Porto's misery as Philipp Lahm's cross from the right was flicked on by Muller and the Polish striker was on hand to power home his header.
With Bayern scoring at will, Fabiano was wrong-footed when Muller's strike on 36 minutes took a deflection as the hosts went 4-0 up. Lewandowski added his second five minutes before the break to make it 5-0 with 50 minutes still to play. Muller passed off to the Polish striker, who took a couple of touches to create space, then drilled the ball low into the corner.
With the game effectively over as a contest, Martinez gave Porto some late hope when substitute Evandro's cross was headed home from close range on 73 minutes. Marcano's foul on Thiago led to the free-kick which Alonso drilled home on 88 minutes to cap Bayern's rousing night.
Neymar double eases Barça past PSG
Barcelona cruised into their seventh Champions League semi-final in eight years as a double from Neymar handed them a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain to seal a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Just as in last week's first leg in Paris, the Brazilian opened the scoring after a sensational assist from Andres Iniesta. Neymar then capitalised on some shoddy defending to head home his 30th goal of the season from Dani Alves's cross. Barça will now take their place alongside Bayern Munich in Friday's draw for the last four, the ties to be played next month.
Only once in European Cup history had a side come back from losing the first leg at home 3-1 and there was little doubt about the outcome as Barça dominated proceedings from the off. The opener arrived on 14 minutes as Iniesta collected the ball inside his own half, spun past three PSG challenges and then rolled the ball through to Neymar, who calmly rounded Salvatore Sirigu before slotting home.
PSG briefly threatened to respond as Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a goal rightly ruled out for offside against his old club on his return to the side from suspension. However, Barça were soon back in command as Lionel Messi fired just over from Luis Suarez's knockdown before Sirigu was forced into a flying save to turn away Alves's powerful drive before clutching Neymar's follow-up effort.
There was nothing the Italian could do 12 minutes before the break, though, as he was exposed by more shocking defending from the French champions as Alves was given plenty of time to pick out his compatriot and the unmarked Neymar powered a header into the bottom corner for his fifth goal in four games against PSG this season.
Barça boss Luis Enrique could afford the luxury of withdrawing Iniesta and Sergio Busquets at the start of the second period for Xavi and Sergi Roberto respectively with one eye on Saturday's Catalan derby away to Espanyol.
With the hosts taking their foot off the gas, PSG did at least have the chance to add some respectability to the scoreline, but unlike Barça's star front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar, who now have 95 goals between them this season, they were wasteful in front of goal.
Marco Verratti passed up the best chance when he pulled his shot wide when well-placed at the edge of the area, whilst Ter Stegen did well to repel Ibrahimovic's piledriver 18 minutes from time.
Messi had one final chance to move ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as the leading scorer in Champions League history, but the Argentinian's goal drought in the competition stretched into four games as his shot flashed just wide.