Barcelona out-passed by Bayern Munich: Champions League tie sees more than 1,000 passes

A side managed by Pep Guardiola against a side previously managed by the Spaniard was always likely to be easy on the eye

Xabi Alonso

It doesn't happen often, but Barcelona were out-passed by Bayern Munich during their Champions League semi-final first leg tie.

Not that the Spanish side will care considering they won the match 3-0 - a result that looks certain to put them in next month's final.

Statistics show that whilst Barcelona made 462 passes, their German opponents made 559. A total of 1021. Xabi Alonso made the most of any player on the pitch with 87.

Under Luis Enrique, it seems more of an emphasis has been put on dribbling the ball with Barcelona attempting an incredible 47 to 12 by Bayern Munich.

The hosts at the Nou Camp also had many more shots - 15 to Bayern's eight.

Before Messi broke the deadlock it looked like the intensely superb displays of football from both sides wouldn't be rewarded with a goal, something that had much to do with Neuer. Aside from the first goal of the night, which the German World Cup winner would have expected to save, the Bayern Munich stopper was superb, making a total of five saves during the contest. On contrast Marc-André ter Stegen made just one.