Barcelona have booked their spot in the 2015 Champions League final despite losing 3-2 to Bayern Munich in the second leg of their semi-final at the Allianz Arena.
The Spanish outfit entered the match as the strong favourites to advance following a 3-0 victory in the first leg last week and it proved to be a comfortable progression for the Catalan outfit, despite a late rally from the hosts.
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Barcelona had a wonderful chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute when Ivan Rakitic broke through on goal, but Manuel Neuer was on hand to make the save, before the German tipped a Jordi Alba cross wide for a corner. Bayern immediately broke down the other end, but Thiago's effort from the edge of the box was blocked.
Bayern were ahead on the night after seven minutes, however, when Medhi Benatia headed a Xabi Alonso corner in to cut the deficit to 3-1 on aggregate.
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Barcelona were on level terms after 15 minutes, however, when Lionel Messi set up Luis Suarez, who squared for Neymar and the Brazilian could not miss from close range as he scored for the seventh game in a row.
Bayern remained a threat, however, with Marc-Andre ter Stegen forced into a smart save to deny Thomas Muller. Ter Stegen was again called into action seven minutes later when he held on to a low poked attempt from Robert Lewandowski.
Messi then came close down the other end - forcing a smart save from Neuer, before Muller fired straight into the arms of Ter Stegen.
Barcelona had their second of the match in the 29th minute when Suarez again set up Neymar and again, the Brazilian finished into the bottom corner.
Bayern came close to levelling the score on the night after 38 minutes when Bastian Schweinsteiger met a cross from the left, but Ter Stegen was on hand to make another smart save, before the Barca goalkeeper somehow kept out a close-range strike from Lewandowski. At the interval, Bayern needed five goals without reply to advance.
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Bayern started the second period on the front foot and came close to levelling on the night through Schweinsteiger in the 50th minute, but the German was once again denied by the impressive Ter Stegen. The home side continued to press forward as the half developed, but Muller could only fire high and wide of the crossbar as Barca played the game at their own pace.
Juan Bernat broke forward for Bayern in the 57th minute as the home supporters kept a good noise inside the stadium, but the former Valencia left-back could only fire wide of the post, with the home side still needing at least five goals to overcome Barca.
One of those goals did arrive just before the hour, however, as Lewandowski finished expertly into the bottom corner after collecting a pass from Schweinsteiger. Muller came close to scoring a third for Bayern three minutes later, but the German's low effort just moved wide of the post.
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Both teams made changes as the second leg entered its final 20 minutes, but Bayern took the lead on the night in the 74th minute when Muller bent an effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty box.
The home side, pressed forward by head coach Pep Guardiola, continued to force the issue, with Lewandowski having one deflected wide 10 minutes from time, but it just proved a case of too little too late as Barcelona booked their spot in Berlin 5-3 on aggregate.
Barcelona did have the chance to score a third in stoppage time when Neymar broke through on goal before sliding a pass towards Messi, but it was just too powerful for the Argentine.
Barcelona will face either Real Madrid or Juventus, who play their second leg on Wednesday, in the final of the tournament on June 6.
Matt Law
