The Champions League quarterfinals have come to a conclusion and we have a semifinal line up comprising of two Germans teams in the form of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and two Spanish and European giants FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. It wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for all of them, except Bayern Munich. Dortmund pulled off a miracle by scoring twice in stoppage time. Madridistas must have also had their hearts in their mouths when Drogba and Sneijder scored in quick succession for Galatasaray before Cristiano Ronaldo scored again in stoppage time to ensure Madrid reached the semifinals.
Now, the main focus of contention is the game between PSG and FC Barcelona. There was a stark contrast in the two legs. The first leg at Parc de Princes saw Barcelona at their best and they dominated PSG. Had it not been for a Valdes error, they would have taken a 2-1 lead back to the Nou Camp. But it ended 2-2. The second leg saw Barcelona dominate in terms of possession, which isn’t a surprise, but what was shocking was their performance in the final third as they struggled to score.
The difference between the two legs was a certain Lionel Messi, who was not on the pitch in the 2nd leg. As soon as Vilanova introduced Messi in the 62nd minute, it looked as if a different Barcelona were playing. Even the atmosphere around the stadium changed, which brings us to the question: Is FC Barcelona really a one man team?
There is absolutely no doubt about the class which Barcelona possesses, with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, Fabregas and the list can go on and on. But will the Barcelona without Messi still be as dominant a force as it is today? Will it be the most feared side in world football? For me the answer is No.
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