Porto pulled off the shock of the week as they claimed a 3-1 win over Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final.
Meanwhile, Guardiola’s old club Barcelona were cruising to a 3-1 win over Paris St Germain in France.
It was an evening of football that threw up more than a couple of questions. Questions like these…
1. Are Bayern Munich the unluckiest team going?
Bayern's injury list right now would finish top 4 in the champions league. Ribery, Robben, Schweinsteiger, Benatia, Martinez, Alaba, etc.
— The Matt Ward (@NotTheFakeMPBW) April 11, 2015
Check out that little lot. No wonder Bayern struggled. The injury list was so bad that Pep Guardiola had two keepers on the bench. Although he may just have been trying to make a point.
2. Has Pep Guardiola been found out?
Pep Guardiola took a treble winning side and made them gloriously mediocre in 2 seasons. Best manager in Europe hands down.
— kaiser (@kyesut) April 15, 2015
A few issues, here. Has Guardiola actually made Bayern worse? And should he be taking his share of the blame for Bayern’s injury woes? Playing a pressing game with a very small squad could be seen as asking for trouble.
3. Does he have his eye on another job?
Guardiola trying to get fired at Bayern, so that he could take up Dortmund's job 😂😂😂😂😂
— The Carrick Role (@TheCarrickRole) April 15, 2015
Well, maybe not that one. That doesn’t seem very likely.
4. Are Bayern a one-man team?
Bayern are a fraud team without Robben.
— GoonerGordo (@GoonerGordo) April 15, 2015
One-man team is overstating it, but if there’s one man they missed this evening, it was Robben. His pace and guile would have given them an extra dimension. Bayern will be praying he’s back for the second leg.
5. Are Barca too good for the Bundesliga?
German league must be poor if Guardiola is getting away with these high lines all the time.
— Ciaran (@ciaranoconnell9) April 15, 2015
Particularly with Borussia Dortmund struggling this season, there’s a lack of proper opposition for Bayern domestically at the moment. This same depleted squad beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 at the weekend. Perhaps they need to stop buying everyone else’s best players – then there’ll be someone to give them a decent game.
6. Have we been underrating Porto?
FC Porto continue as the only undefeated side in Champions League. pic.twitter.com/nZaT5loiDs
— Portista (@FCPortoWorld) April 15, 2015
Not many people gave them a hope of beating Bayern (we certainly didn’t) – but the clues were there. They’ve been unbeatable in Europe this season, and it’s not as if they don’t have talent in their team – Danilo, Jackson Martinez, Ricardo Quaresma… They certainly earned a lot of respect tonight.
7. Is Luiz Suarez the best striker out there?
Suarez is probably the best finisher in the world
— Patrick Fullerton (@PFullerton_) April 15, 2015
Barcelona striker Suarez scored two absolute worldies against PSG today. He’s starting to stand out even in a team that contains Lionel Messi and Neymar – now that is impressive. In both goals he succeeded in making David Luiz look very silly. Although maybe that isn’t such an achievement. Speaking of which…
8. How is David Luiz worth £50 million?
David Luiz: "What's up doc?" Doctor: "Just trying to work out how the f*ck you're worth £50m." pic.twitter.com/f7sJMxrgwi
— The FOOTBALL Bible (@TFBible_) April 15, 2015
It’s not a new question, but one very much worth asking. It is absolutely mind-boggling.
9. Can Zlatan rescue PSG?
Zlatan to save the day next leg????
— Amobi Okugo (@amobisays) April 15, 2015
This is actually the time this season in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been absent and PSG have lost. That said, he is talismanic for them in every sense. He’ll certainly give them a lift when he returns for the second leg, and he relishes a chance to prove himself against Barca – but surely it’s too big a hill to climb at the Nou Camp.
Source: SNAPPA
