The Blaugrana president has pointed out that Pep Guardiola’s men overturned a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Porto with a 6-1 win at the Allianz Arena
Josep Maria Bartomeu says Bayern Munich’s stunning comeback against Porto should serve as a warning for Barcelona ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg.
The Blaugrana stormed to a 3-0 win in last week’s meeting at Camp Nou, with Lionel Messi netting a sensational double before Neymar bagged a third in the dying seconds.
Many pundits believe that Barca are already through to the final, with even Bayern icon Franz Beckenbauer admitting that the Bavarians already look “doomed” to bow out in the semis for the second successive season.
However, Bartomeu is taking nothing for granted, particularly in light of the fact that Pep Guardiola’s men overturned a 3-1 quarter-final deficit against Porto with a stunning 6-1 win at the Allianz Arena.
“We have a good advantage,” the Barca president is quoted as saying by MARCA. “But we must be cautious not forget that Bayern put six goals past Porto.
“We hope to see a good game against a great opponent but reach the final in the end.
“But we must be careful. We’re going to play a game in a stadium that will push their side hard.”
So concentrated is Bartomeu on the second leg clash in Bavaria that he was even reluctant to discuss the future of coach Luis Enrique, who is on the verge of emulating Guardiola’s achievement of winning a treble in his first season as Barca boss.
“We are now in full competition mode and we have to be focused,” he added.
“We are in a semi-final of the Champions League and must think beyond that.”