Barcelona travelled to Germany with the hope of continuing their good record against Germany teams on German ground. The also went with their Arsenal not really loaded as they took with them a near fit Lionel Messi, and Bayern though in form at the moment where expected to hold back and try to absorb whatever pressure Barca were willing to offer. But the story did not go according to the script, as Bayern battered Barcelona.
Below is the match report for those who still don't believe it.
Bayern Munich produced a devastating performance to thrash Barcelona 4-0 at the Allianz Arena and all but kill off their Champions League semi-final.
Two goals from Thomas Mueller and one each from Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben added up to humiliation for the former tournament favourites who found themselves overwhelmed.
Barcelona dominated the ball but found themselves outclassed on every other level as the Bundesliga champions delivered 90 minutes of power, discipline, decisiveness and no little flair.
Yes, Tito Vilanova's side will point out that Gomez was offside for his goal, and Robben scored after an illegal block on Jordi Alba by Mueller.
Typically, Barcelona hogged the ball, but every time the visitors tried to move the ball into the final third they ran into a wall of tacklers. Bayern closed down diligently, and often went in two at a time on Messi.
Once they won the ball, Bayern moved it quickly and purposefully. Time and again they exploited space behind the adventurous Jordi Alba, giving Arjen Robben space to run into.
Jupp Heynckes's side won eight first-half corners, and one fittingly led to the opening goal. Barca failed to clear Ribery's delivery from the left and the ball fell to Robben on the other flank.
The Dutchman, uncharacteristically, crossed right-footed and Dante nodded back across goal for Mueller to poach expertly at the right-hand post, nodding the ball in despite goalkeeper Victor Valdes's efforts.
Valdes had already been called upon to save once from Robben and once from Mueller, both from the Bayern right.
At the other end, there were no alarms for Valdes's opposite number Manuel Neuer. The closest Barcelona came was from a rare swift attack - Pedro crossed from the right and Dante got a vital toenail on the ball to guide it away from Messi and out for a corner.
Barca lacked rhythm, and weren't helped by a sodden centre-circle, inexplicably over-watered on a rain-free day in Bavaria. While the conspiracy theorists had a field day, Bayern do not normally have to resort to underhand tactics at home, where they have now won 18 of their last 21 Champions League games.
Barcelona's second-half plans swiftly unravelled when Gomez made it two from another corner. Mueller headed across goal from another Robben delivery and Gomez finished from close range, though he was marginally offside.
Barca's best spell followed, though they never managed to trouble Neuer.
On 73 minutes the third came, as Robben weaved his way through the area and beat Valdes from the right side of the six-yard box.
Mueller executed a basketball-style screen block on Alba in the build-up but - as we have become used to - the additional assistant referee behind the goal did nothing.
But there was no doubt about the fourth as Robben laid it off to the overlapping David Alaba down the left, and Mueller turned in his low cross for another simple finish.
Barcelona will no doubt feel hard done believing they don't deserve what they got, but who knows what will happen in a week time, because in football and with Barcelona, its never over until its over.
But at the moment its stands very clear to everyone that Barcelona travelled all the way to Germany four-nothing.
Two goals from Thomas Mueller and one each from Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben added up to humiliation for the former tournament favourites who found themselves overwhelmed.
Barcelona dominated the ball but found themselves outclassed on every other level as the Bundesliga champions delivered 90 minutes of power, discipline, decisiveness and no little flair.
Yes, Tito Vilanova's side will point out that Gomez was offside for his goal, and Robben scored after an illegal block on Jordi Alba by Mueller.
Typically, Barcelona hogged the ball, but every time the visitors tried to move the ball into the final third they ran into a wall of tacklers. Bayern closed down diligently, and often went in two at a time on Messi.
Once they won the ball, Bayern moved it quickly and purposefully. Time and again they exploited space behind the adventurous Jordi Alba, giving Arjen Robben space to run into.
Jupp Heynckes's side won eight first-half corners, and one fittingly led to the opening goal. Barca failed to clear Ribery's delivery from the left and the ball fell to Robben on the other flank.
The Dutchman, uncharacteristically, crossed right-footed and Dante nodded back across goal for Mueller to poach expertly at the right-hand post, nodding the ball in despite goalkeeper Victor Valdes's efforts.
Valdes had already been called upon to save once from Robben and once from Mueller, both from the Bayern right.
At the other end, there were no alarms for Valdes's opposite number Manuel Neuer. The closest Barcelona came was from a rare swift attack - Pedro crossed from the right and Dante got a vital toenail on the ball to guide it away from Messi and out for a corner.
Barca lacked rhythm, and weren't helped by a sodden centre-circle, inexplicably over-watered on a rain-free day in Bavaria. While the conspiracy theorists had a field day, Bayern do not normally have to resort to underhand tactics at home, where they have now won 18 of their last 21 Champions League games.
Barcelona's second-half plans swiftly unravelled when Gomez made it two from another corner. Mueller headed across goal from another Robben delivery and Gomez finished from close range, though he was marginally offside.
Barca's best spell followed, though they never managed to trouble Neuer.
On 73 minutes the third came, as Robben weaved his way through the area and beat Valdes from the right side of the six-yard box.
Mueller executed a basketball-style screen block on Alba in the build-up but - as we have become used to - the additional assistant referee behind the goal did nothing.
But there was no doubt about the fourth as Robben laid it off to the overlapping David Alaba down the left, and Mueller turned in his low cross for another simple finish.
Barcelona will no doubt feel hard done believing they don't deserve what they got, but who knows what will happen in a week time, because in football and with Barcelona, its never over until its over.
But at the moment its stands very clear to everyone that Barcelona travelled all the way to Germany four-nothing.
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