Wakati Barcelona na Munich wakiisambaratisha 'English football', Toni Kroos na Thiago Alcantara ndio Xavi na Iniesta wapya duniani.

Barcelona na Bayern Munich kwa pamoja wamedhihirisha dhahiri kulipiga kumbo English football wiki hii huku kila mmoja akiua mpinzani wake kutoka England kwa kufunga magoli magoli ya dakika za mwisho.

Mashabikiwa Manchester City na wale wa Arsenal wanahisi hali kuwa ngumu, na watakuwa wakiendelea na kiwewe cha kadi mbili nyekundu kuwa zimebadilisha mwelekeo wa viwango vyao vya uchezaji na kuamua matokeo ya michezo hiyo.

Wapinzani wao watasema walitumia faida ya fursa moja moja walizopata na kuzitumia.

Ni dhahiri shahiri kwamba Barcelona wanacheza -wonderful football- na Bayern ni timu kali kwa tafsiri nzuri ya maneno ya kingereza unaweza kusema ni 'Ruthless powerhouse' lakini swali ni kwamba kwasasa ni timu ipi namba moja kwa ubora?

Wachezaji wa Barcelona wakishangilia wakati wa mchezo wao walioshinda kwa mabao 2-0 dhidi ya Manchester City mchezo uliopigwa Etihad

Wachezaji wa Bayern Munich pia wakishangilia katika mchezo walioshinda kwa mabao 2-0 ugenini dhidi ya Arsenal mchezo uliopigwa Emirates

 Martin Demechelis alitolewa nje ya uwanja baada ya kumfanyia madhambi Lionel Messi.

Wojciech Szczesny pia alitolewa nje kufuatia kumuangusha Arjen Robben katika eneo la hatari kipindi cha kwanza

Kroos na Thiago ndio Xavi na Iniesta wapya

Idadi ya pasi kwa wachezaji wa vilabu vya Barcelona na Bayern dhidi ya Manchester City na Arsenal

Kroos (Bayern)147
Xavi (Barcelona)128
Lahm (Bayern) 122
Fabregas (Barcelona) 98
Busquets (Barcelona) 98
Thiago (Bayern) 97
Iniesta (Barcelona) 85
Alves (Barcelona) 81
Dante (Bayern) 79
Messi (Barcelona) 77

Hebu tuangalie pasi alizocheza Toni Kroos. Ametoa pasi 152, huku pasi 147 zikifika ambazo ni zaidi ya pasi zote zilizopigwa na viungo wa Arsenal.

Alikuwa akicheza dhidi ya timu ya watu 10 huu bado ni uwezo wa hali ya juu. Meneja wa Manchester United David Moyes alikuwa akiangalia mchezo huo uliopigwa katika dimba la Emirates na hakika atakuwa alikuwa akikuna kichwa na huku akijiuliza ‘Kwanini sikufanya jitihada katika dirisha la usajili?’

Kroos amekuwa na matatizo ya kimkaba na klabu yake — hadhani kama wanamlipa ipasavyo. Bila shaka baada ya mchezo huo dhidi ya Arsenal uliopita ambapo alionyesha soka la hali juu ni wazi suala la malipo litakuwa mgogoro mpya tena wa muda mrefu.

Bayern haitakuwa na utayari wa kumruhusu aondoke. Yeye pamoja na kiungo mwingine mkali Thiago ndio viungo wapya pacha wanaongoza katika dunia ya mpira wa miguu. 

Wawili hao kwasasa-They ooze power and quality.

Utawala wa Kroos, Bayern Munich imemthamisha kiungo huyo kwa thamani ya pauni milioni 50 na akitakiwa na Manchester United

Unaweza kuwaita 'Past masters'? Viuongo wa Barcelona Xavi na Andres Iniesta (kulia) walikuwa wakijulikana zaidi kuwa ndio viungo bora duniani

Mkali wa kupiga pasi: Thiago Alcantara (kushoto) ameongeza nguvu ya kiungo cha Bayern akijiunga na timu hiyo akitokea Barcelona

 

Neuer is the world’s best

One goalkeeper has a swaggering air of confidence, the other breeds chaos. Manuel Neuer is the undisputed world No 1. His penalty save from Mesut Ozil, when Arsenal had started brilliantly, changed the mood of the game.

He looked like a beast filling the goal. Victor Valdes looks a bag of nerves. Barcelona still seem to attempt seat-of-their-pants defending, with last-ditch tackles and Javier Mascherano looking like he is about to be exposed. Valdes doesn’t help much.

Safe hands: Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer (R) silenced Arsenal with his first-half penalty save

He's behind you! Arsene Wenger (R) looks on after Mesut Ozil misses a penalty that defined the game

Goalmouth scramble: Victor Valdes (ground) cuts a far less imposing figure in between Barcelona's sticks

No cigar! David Silva reacts after seeing a good opportunity go to waste after his effort is saved by Valdes

Bayern’s defence didn’t look too happy during the first 30 minutes either. Jerome Boateng, especially, had a poor start and his position for the penalty he conceded was terrible. He was booked and then removed at half-time. That will give hope to anyone who fears Bayern are unbeatable. Arsenal showed how to make them uncomfortable, but they had to score at that point.

The missed penalty sucked the life out of them and Bayern grew from there.

An overrated role

Javi Martinez (Bayern) and Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) have the best jobs in world football. Who wouldn’t want to play at the base of these midfields with so much quality around them?

Unsung hero: Bayern Munich enforcer Javi Martinez (2L) moved from midfield to defence against Arsenal

Demolition man: Sergio Busquets breaks up play to allow his Barcelona teammates to create chances

Changing man: Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm (R) has reinvented himself as a holding midfielder

But I think this role in any team is overrated. Yes, you are the quarterback, but there is a lot of time on the ball to dictate the game.

Bayern were better when Martinez went into the back four and the marvellous Philipp Lahm switched from full back into midfield. They had more purpose about them.

Unfinished business

There is more to come from Bayern. They are an incredible football side and they will only get better.

The signing of Robert Lewandowski will give them more firepower. Mario Mandzukic is very good but Lewandowski is a mighty upgrade.

Incoming: Bayern Munich will be strengthened by the arrival of Robert Lewandowski in the summer

In reserve: Mario Mandzukic (2R) is not a bad back up while Bayern wait for Lewandowski to seal his move

Pep Guardiola knows what he is building and how to get there. He has created a team before. We saw flashes of Lionel Messi in Manchester on Tuesday night, but can he return to his most blistering form?

He’s not there yet but at least he broke his remarkable duck by scoring his first goal at a Barclays Premier League ground.

King of the dug out

Pep Guardiola is king. He created the modern Barcelona and is doing the same with Bayern Munich. Bayern beat Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate last season before Pep arrived.

He is taking them up to another level. Barcelona have added Neymar to their squad but I don’t believe they have improved.

Bayern are ahead of Barcelona now and Guardiola has the task of helping them become the first club to deliver back-to-back Champions League triumps. They are on course.

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