The English game might not have seen, being largely focused on Luis SuArez and his marauding molars, but there was a coup in European soccer this week. On subsequent nights two German groups not just saw off the best-known names in Spanish football but did so with an experience which suggested that the energy structures in the Champions League are going to change. On Tuesday, Bayern Munich beat Barcelona 4-0 in the very first leg of these semi-final. The following night Borussia Dortmund defeated Real Madrid 4-1. The chances of either shortage being overturned in Spain must be thin and the prospect of an closing at Wembley on 25 May is an interesting one. A German resurgence is long overdue. Bayern were the past German team to win the Champions League in 2001 when they beat Valencia on charges. Since that time the event has been dominated by Spanish, English and Italian sides. In 2013 the process from England and Italy has fallen well short even though Manchester United could report that they may possibly still have already been there but for the dismissal of Nani in the next leg of the past 16 when they appeared set for success against Real. Chelsea, the slots, and Manchester City maintained only token appearances and while the group stage was survived by Arsenal their departure was expected and meek. Bayern were any such thing but meek against Barcelona. Their performance was ab muscles fact of German football even when two of probably the most important people, Arjen Robben and Franck RibAry, originated from Holland and France. The combination of method, rate, natural passing and movement, and especially the strength of their teamwork, rolled back the years to the international, membership and great German clubs, of days gone by. The way in which Barcelona were defeated valued remote pictures of the 1954 World Cup last in Switzerland when West Germany experienced Hungary, the group of its era. Few gave the Germans the tiniest glimmer of hope. The Hungarians had defeated them 8-3 in the opening party phase. Why whenever they lose now? But Hungary, like Barcelona on Tuesday, were somewhat off their game. And Ferenc Puskas, like Lionel Messi, had not completely recovered from a personal injury. Therefore although the Hungarians scored twice in the initial seven minutes they were slowly worn down by the opposition's speed, ability and persistent targeting power and were beaten 3-2. Dortmund's rout of Madrid was practically an replay of the fit in Munich 24-hours early in the day, except that this success was all about the classical centre-forward play of Robert Lewandowski, who is Tommy Lawton, Nat Lofthouse, Alan Shearer and Robin van Persie rolled in to one. If Van Persie's outrageous shot for United against Aston Villa on Monday, when the Dutchman took a ball falling over his shoulder on the volley, was the purpose of the period in the Premier League, then the third of Lewandowski's four on Wednesday, a perfect drag-back accompanied by a turn and unqualified shot, could have few competitors in the Champions League. In the wake of those German triumphs against such vaunted competitors, several headlines have spoken of power shifts in European soccer. It is a reasonable principle supported by thrilling research, albeit with the get back legs still to come, and if it might be thought that Bayern and Dortmund will continue steadily to go from strength to strength while adding fresh faces to their squads, German optimism would be fully justified. Yet Dortmund went into Wednesday's fit knowing that among their most critical people, Mario GAtze, was set to join Bayern in the close season for A31.5m with another, Sven Bender, also more likely to go. And as Lewandowski was rating his four goals, one could sense his price tag rising since he will be out of agreement after next season, a factor that might also result in come early july him leaving. While Bayern seems to be better placed financially, neither club could be able to resist the sort of presents for their participants that may originate from Spain or England. If Chelsea's owner, Roman Abramovich, was ready to pay A50m for Fernando Torres, what may he perhaps not lash out for Lewandowski? Obviously he could possibly offer Torres in part-exchange, based on his sense of humour. Uefa's attempt to curb such excesses through limits on debt can make it easier for groups like Dortmund to hold on with their participants however they shouldn't depend on it. In Europe the power may be moving on the subject, but the power in the pockets remains unchanged.
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