Player Ratings: Barcelona 3-0 Bayern Munich – Messi the standout performer

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Barcelona ran out 3-0 winners in the Champions League semifinal first-leg against Bayern Munich on Wednesday night…

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Here are the player ratings:

Barcelona

GK: Marc ter Stegen – 7

Did what he had to with minimal fuss.

RB: Dani Alves – 8

Supplied assist for Messi’s first, but missed a crucial chance in the first-half.

CB: Gerard Pique – 7

Commanding performance, and didn’t give Bayern a sniff.

CB: Javier Mascherano – 8

The former Liverpool man is the rock at the heart of the Barca defence, despite his size. Had Robert Lewandowski in his pocket.

LB: Jordi Alba – 7

Good going forward and in defence. Constantly provided an overlapping option.

CM: Andres Iniesta – 8

A metronomic presence in Barca’s engine room.

CM: Sergio Busquets – 8

Broke down attacks for fun, and provided Barcelona a wonderful platform from which they could perform.

CM: Ivan Rakitic – 7

Supplied an assist for Messi’s second, and proved why he was selected ahead of legendary Xavi.

ST: Neymar – 8

Grabbed the vital third goal. Improved as the game went on, and could have been awarded a second-half penalty.

ST: Luis Suarez – 8

Did what you’d expect – hassled, harried, and chased, although his end product wasn’t at it’s usual level, luckily for the Germans.

ST: Lionel Messi – 9

Two goal hero – man of the match. Messi’s first was sublime, but his second was simply jaw-dropping. The Argentine has probably finished the tie.


Bayern Munich

GK: Manuel Neuer – 8

Conceded three but made lots of top saves that kept Bayern in it for so long.

CB: Rafinha – 6

Given the runaround by Messi.

CB: Jerome Boateng – 6

Beaten too easily for Messi’s second.

CB: Mehdi Benatia – 5

Quiet performance and didn’t look confident – but he was up against the world’s best front-three.

RM: Thiago Alcantara – 6

Dangerous at times, but gave the ball away too easily.

CM: Philip Lahm – 6

One of Bayern’s better performers, but occasionally wasteful in possession.

CM: Xabi Alonso – 7

A good performance from the ex-Liverpool man, who controlled the game until Barcelona took the lead. Then, his influence faded.

LM: Juan Bernat – 5

Invisible for large parts.

AM: Thomas Muller – 6

Didn’t create enough for a player of his talent.

AM: Bastian Schweinsteiger – 6

Struggled to get into the game against a robust Barca defence.

ST: Robert Lewandowski – 6

Looked like he needed more support and supply.

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