The hard way

One inspired pundit, whose name is lost in the mists of time, once said that football is a game of two halves. While in a literal sense this expert was stating the obvious, he was also alluding to a recurring feature of the game: a team whose fortunes flounder in the first 45 minutes can come out of the dressing room to play a blinder - and vice-versa.

And so it was for Bayern Munich and Manchester United on Wednesday night. The Mancunians went two goals up within seven minutes, and it looked as though Bayern were going to be on the end of a spanking of Messi-like proportions.

Bayern's two world-class wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery looked anything but, and worse, their defense seemed swamped by United's assault. Their back line - Daniel van Buyten in particular - appeared to have no answers but to follow a strategy lifted from the Karate Kid. Whenever Wayne Rooney and his dodgy ankle came near the ball, van Buyten and co. heard the ominous order "sweep the leg" in their heads and followed it accordingly.

United, in contrast, were at their free-flowing best. Portuguese winger Nani seemed possessed with the spirit of his departed countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, Antonio Valencia was having his way with a wan Holger Badstuber, and even the half-fit Rooney looked primed to score. It could have been four before half-time.

Olic's goal gives Bayern belief

As it was, four goals were scored before the break. But the most important of them was the last - Bayern's opener. Coming just two minutes after United had seemingly taken a game-winning lead, the Ivica Olic's goal put the Germans within touching distance again. More importantly, it gave Bayern belief. Had Bayern gone into the break 3-0 down, the size of their task may have been just too intimidating.

Bayern came out for the second half as a different team and as the game wore on, it became obvious that this was the kind of team which could overturn the odds on the night and possibly fight their way to a first European crown in almost a decade.

No casual observer would have thought that the team in red was the home side. Navy-clad Bayern were constantly probing with one-touch, short forward passes and stretching the United team with long raking changes in direction of play. From being the dominant side protecting a lead which would take them to the semi-final, Man United were suddenly on the ropes.

An unrecognizable Bayern dominate ten-man United

Even dominant sides need luck to break their way, though, and while the sending off of United's young Brazilian defender Rafael in the 50th minute didn't exactly deprive Manchester of their most dangerous player, it certainly provided a turning point.

After the sending off, Bayern went on for the kill. They forced United back into their own half after gaining the numerical advantage and for long periods wouldn't let them out of the final third. The English champions were forced to look for counter-attacking opportunities; lofting long balls over the entire Bayern team encamped in their territory in the slim hope of making a scoring chance.

There was a growing feeling at Old Trafford that a goal was inevitable and there were faces of concern all around the ground long before Arjen Robben cracked a sublime volley into the bottom left hand corner of Edwin van der Sar's goal to put Bayern through on away goals.

The determined German team which came out in the second half eroded United's grip on the tie, destroyed the English champions' confidence, and reduced them - one of the game's most accomplished passing sides - into a long-ball team.

The Bayern Munich players who forced Man United into submission will certainly have given their semi-final opponents Lyon something to think about – and fear. In both legs of their tie against United, the Bavarians went down early, yet found the will and quality to erase their mostly mediocre first half performances and go through. If Bayern just get down to business from the outset against their French opponents, the Bundesliga side look a good bet to roll on to Madrid for their first European Cup final since 2001 on May 22.

If they do get that far, Barcelona or Inter Milan would await them in the Spanish capital. Many would call either side, on current form, a sterner test than anything Bayern has yet faced in the competition - and doubt whether Bayern were up to the task. But now that they've have eliminated Manchester United - winners two years ago, and beaten finalists last season - there is no question Bayern Munich are real contenders to win the Champions League.

Author: Nick Amies
Editor: Matt Hermann