Tuesday 21 April 2015 23:53, UK
Bayern Munich’s first-half hammering of Porto was ‘the stuff of dreams’ and makes them contenders for the Champions League, says Alan McInally.
Pep Guardiola’s side suffered a shock 3-1 defeat in Portugal in the first-leg of their quarter-final but bounced back in sensational style, firing five past the visitors in a remarkable opening 45 minutes on Tuesday night, before running out 6-1 victors on the night and progressing to the semi-finals 7-4 on aggregate.
McInally reckons Bayern’s first-half display was way beyond anything boss Guardiola could have hoped for and will have the players believing they can reclaim the trophy they last lifted in 2013.
“There’s no way Guardiola thought it would be 5-0 at half-time,” McInally told skysports.com. “He might have thought they could get one or two but to dominate the first half like that was stuff of dreams.
“If they weren’t contenders after 90 minutes last week, they’re certainly contenders now. I’ve been in the same position, in the semi-finals, and psychologically you know you’re almost there. And, after a performance like that, having come back from such a poor away performance, they will have huge belief.”
McInally pinpointed Bayern’s greater use of the flanks as a key reason for their success on Tuesday but says once the hosts got the opener, the Allianz Arena atmosphere got to the Porto players.
He said: “In the first game I didn’t think Bayern got any width. Porto were so good in the middle of the park defensively, the only way they were going to get in and around them was by using more width.
“Porto played a little deeper tonight, rather than putting Bayern under pressure, and that played into Bayern’s hands but the ball to the wide area makes more space – and it’s a big pitch at Munich.
“Bayern were better tonight, the tempo was better, their touch was better and their passing was so much better - but Champions League home advantage is a massive thing, too. That first goal gave them belief they could turn the 3-1 over.
“When they get one at home, they look to go and punish teams immediately. That’s what happened tonight. With the noise from the fans when the second goal went in, even the strongest Porto player mentally was probably rocked back on his heels.
“From that moment on, the thought that Porto could turn Bayern over fizzled out there and then.”
