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Andres Iniesta: 'Barcelona still the benchmark'

Iniesta: 'Barca still the benchmark'
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Andres Iniesta says that Bayern Munich have to win things over a number of years if they want to establish themselves as the dominant force in Europe.

Andres Iniesta has said that Barcelona are still the top dogs in Europe despite Bayern Munich's march to the Champions League title.

The Bavarian outfit destroyed Blaurgrana 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, before going on to defeat German rivals Borussia Dortmund to clinch their fifth crown.

Jupp Heynckes also guided the team to success in the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal, but the Spanish international said that it takes years to achieve the level of dominance Barca have enjoyed.

When asked by El Pais if he thought that Bayern's victory this year meant the end of their reign at the top, the 29-year-old replied: "No, I know there are a lot of people who would like that but we are still alive.

"Cycles consist of years of achieving things and this one has lasted a long time. You can't throw everything we've achieved into the bin after one tie where we were not at our best.

"Bayern was at its peak and walked all over us."

Iniesta is currently in Brazil with the national team for the Confederations Cup.

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Michael Penkman
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Spain's Andres Iniesta is challenged by two French players on March 26, 2013
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico19135134122244
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona198472725228
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196762123-225
11Osasuna196762328-525
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Getafe194781316-319
16Leganes194781829-1119
17AlavesAlaves1945102131-1017
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Real ValladolidValladolid1943121337-2415
20Valencia1927101829-1113


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