Thursday 7 May 2015 09:40, UK
Lionel Messi scored twice and assisted another as Barcelona beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Nou Camp. Pep Guardiola's attacking philosophy ensured an exciting game but he had no answer to stopping Messi, writes Adam Bate...
Thierry Henry called it "brave", while Jamie Carragher settled for "stupid". What nobody should have been is surprised. Pep Guardiola doesn't park buses and his proactive approach at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night gave us one of the most enthralling games of the season. Unfortunately for the Bayern Munich coach, he also felt the full force of the genius of Lionel Messi, all but ending his team's Champions League hopes for another season.
There had been much debate in the build-up about whether or not Guardiola could identify a weakness lurking within the team he knows so well; the "flash of inspiration" he's spoken of that would unlock the key to victory. In the opening 15 minutes, that planning led him to going man-for-man at the back against the most devastating forward line in world football - a trio that have now scored 111 goals between them this season.
The decision to revert to a back-four soon after might even have been pre-planned but his team were undeniably fortunate to get away with the experiment for as long as they did, as Barcelona went close numerous times in those early stages. However, Guardiola is a risk taker and as his mentor Juanma Lillo once said, "taking no risks is the riskiest thing of all. So, in order to avoid risks, I will take risks."
Taking no risks is the riskiest thing of all. So, in order to avoid risks, I will take risks
Perhaps Lillo was in his thoughts this week. After all, Guardiola has called him the best coach he has worked with, even finishing his playing career in Mexico such was his desire to fulfil his ambition of working with the man. And while Guardiola himself had no experience of facing Barcelona going into this tie, Lillo certainly did.
Uncompromising
When coaching Almeria in 2010, Lillo's uncompromising attitude was evident in the build-up. "Barcelona and Almeria both want to control the ball," he said. "The problem is that there is only one of them on the field. We will try to take the ball away from them and keep it under our control for as much time as possible."
Later that year, his stay at Almeria came to an end with an emphatic 8-0 defeat to Guardiola's team. Sacked for his refusal to bow to Barcelona. Unlike Lillo's Almeria, Guardiola's Bayern did win the battle for the ball - even becoming the first team in over a decade of Champions League football to have more possession against Barcelona. But thanks to the magic of Messi, their fate was little better - vanquished by the little maestro.
Guardiola had called Messi unstoppable in his pre-match press conference and while few know the Argentine's capabilities better, that helpless feeling of finding yourself in the opposition dugout was new to him. Just as Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and many more have discovered in the past, the best-laid plans can disappear like quicksilver when Messi's witchcraft begins to take effect.
Mike Tyson famously once said, everyone has a plan until they're punched in the face. But while Floyd Mayweather had to rely on the scorecards of judges to get the decision when his body swerves bamboozled Manny Pacquiao, Messi succeeded in felling Jerome Boateng in the second. There was simply no answer to his brilliance.
Manuel Neuer was supposed to provide the last - and best - line of defence but although his skills were sufficient to keep out Luis Suarez and Dani Alves in one-on-one situations before the break, Messi was another matter. Even Neuer was forced to understand his place in the scheme of things. Beaten at his near post for the opener. Lobbed at close quarters for Barca's - and Messi's - second.
Messi's numbers
If numbers are your thing, Messi has plenty of them for you too. That's 53 goals for the season and 77 in total in the Champions League, moving back above Cristiano Ronaldo to top that particular list. Guardiola had hoped to stop Messi getting on the ball but there were 81 touches and 10 completed dribbles, equalling his own knockout stage record this season.
More importantly, there were also those two goals and the one assist that leave Guardiola's Bayern on the ropes. Down but not out... and a manager who remains unapologetic about his approach. "The best way to defend is to attack," he said afterwards. "I could not come here and shut up shop." Barca counterpart and friend Luis Enrique agreed. "Guardiola's tactics were according to his style, his team and his philosophy."
It's a philosophy that Catalonia fell in love with. One they're continuing to enjoy both without him and because of him. Whatever the thoughts on his efforts in Bavaria, in Barcelona at least, Pep Guardiola leaves with his reputation for all that's good about football firmly intact. Lionel Messi's reputation, barely believably, has only been enhanced.
