UEFA Champions League, 2nd semi-final 1st leg: Barcelona vs Bayern Munich – As it happened...

New Delhi: Barcelona-Bayern Munich tie is probably over after an unstoppable Lionel Messi scored twice in a space of three minutes. Chasing an away goal, Bayern pushed hard in the dying minutes, allowing Neymar to score the third. Interestingly, Barca trailed in the possession game though, to Pep Guardiola's Bavarians. The return-leg is on May 14 at the Allianze Arena. And Bayern will hope to repeat their quarter-final outing against Porto to keep their continental hopes alive.​

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Barcelona (Messi 77', 80', Neymar 90+4') 3 - 0 Bayern Munich

Second-half

90+5' - And the final whistle from Camp Nou.

90+4' - Goal no. three for Barca, this time Neymar produced his pace and cool finish to beat Neuer one on one. He benefited from an advantage after Suarez was fouled in the centre. In between, Suarez and Bastian Schweinsteiger have a go at each other. Bayern paid the price for looking for an away goal after conceding two. Nine Bayern players were in the Barca half when the counter from the home team hit them, hard!

90+1' - Barca players continued to swamp the midfield as Bayern look to launch attack with newly arrived Mario Gotze.

89' - In the dying minutes, Suarez won a free-kick after a tussle with Bayern's Rafinha on the near corner. From the corner, Bayern pushed hard for a counter. Four minutes added.

88' - With couple of regulation minutes in to the game, Luis Enrique utilised another substitute, this time bringing Marc Bartra on for Javier Mascherano.

86' - Two Rafinha on the field now. Barca introduced their own Rafinha, in place of Andres Iniesta. Bayern's Rafinha, the older brother, has been busy since the first minute.

84' - Suarez got himself a go at the Bayern goal from the edge, but his attempt was always climbing high.

82' - Xabi Hernandez on for Ivan Rakitic.

80' - Messi on song. What a finish from the Argentine. A chip to beat Neuer. Second goal for Barca. Messi picked up the ball some 30 yards out, then turned Jerome Boateng to get himself in the position to loft.

Lionel Messi's incredible second goal in photos ... Neuer? No chance. #UCL pic.twitter.com/on0j5K3L8W — Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 6, 2015

Lionel Messi has scored 77 goals in the Champions League, one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo who scored yesterday in Real Madrid's defeat to Juventus.

79' - First sub of the match. Pep Guardiola brought in Mario Gotze for Thomas Muller.

77' - Then the Argentine beat Manule Neuer on the far corner for the first Goal of the match. With that Messi equaled with Ronaldo in the Champions League highest scorer list. Left-foot drilled.

76'- Barca won a throw in inside the Bayern half, then from a high ball Neymar almost got a penalty. He he was left furious. But soon, from the following play, Dani Alves laid a tidy pass for Lionel Messi to shoot with his left foot...

74' -  Philipp Lahm involved himself in a attack. Barca defender did enough to thwarted the attack though.

72' - First real creative move from Barca in the second half, involving their famous trident. But the end result was a misdirected cross from Suarez.

71' - Thiago Alcantara got a long ranger, which deflected from a Barca defender, giving enough time to Marc-Andre ter Stegen to collect the ball.

69' - In the last ten minutes of action, Barca have come under heavy pressure from Bayern with the ball constantly playing in the Barca half.

68' - Neymar is furious. He got a Yellow Card for a run in on Muller on the left flank.

67' - Good delivery from Alonso from the free-kick. The teasing ball forced Sergio Busquets to head to safety, for a corner.

66' - One of the team. Gerard Pique lunge to stop Muller on the run, just outside the box.

64' - Thiago Alcantara earned a free-kick after he was fouled by Rakitic inside the Barca half. From the free-kick, Alonso sent a long ball towards the Barca goal, forcing Barca defenders to scramble hard.

63' - Rakitic set-up Neymar after a defensive error from Bayern. But the Brazilian's shot from the right sailed over the bar.

62' - Thiago Alcantara gifted a loose ball to his former team, allowing Barcelona to resurrect yet another attack from the right.

60' - He is called the sweeper-keeper. Neuer came to Bayern defence to thwart Suarez one on one with a clearance with his foot outside the box. Brilliant.

59' - Barca started to get some confidence in their attacking. Neymar weaved through the Bayern defence but nothing came of it.

57' - Moments later, Messi got a shot on the goal forcing Neuer to defend.

56' - Juan Bernat booked for a foul on Lionel Messi. From the restart, Messi tried to weave his magic inside the Bayern box, but he was undone by his own over indulgence.

55' - Muller caught off-side from a Alonso delivery. It's Bayern turn to enjoy the majority of possession in the second half. They won a corner from a Lewandowski cross. But nothing worthy happened.

54' - Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller combined well in the centre to create a chance for Bayern Munich. But the long ball from the play went out of play.

52' - From the Messi free-kick, Barca settled for a throw in on the left, then pulled back their game.

50' - Bayern for sure started the second half in a different style and with greater intention. Meanwhile Benatia blocked Iniesta on the run, for a free-kick to Barca. Some distance though.

49' - Luis Suarez caught Medhi Benatia late in the centre and foul given. Suarez is angry.

47' - From the free-kick taken by Alonso, Bayern won a corner. But they failed to trouble Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Instead, on the counter, Barca got their attack going.

46' - The second-half started with a Yellow Card to Dani Alves for a foul on Robert Lewandowski just outside the box. Bayern pressed early from the re-start won the ball, Then Lewandowski found himself one on one with the Brazilian defender.

In the 45 odd minutes of play, Barca attempted nine times with four hitting the target. Bayern got a couple on target from four attempts. So far, Barca looked more hungry against their visitors. Surely, Neuer is the man for the Bavarians. But the only surprise of the match was Rafinha manning the right back for Bayern.

And considering that first-half play, we can also probably talk about that 108 goals score by the Barca trident in all competition this season, as against a total of 117 from Bayern.

First-half

45+1' - After one minute of added time, referee whistled for the half-time. An intriguing game of football with Barcelona doing more work, but Bayern getting more or less amount of opportunties.

43' - Probing long ball from Jerome Boateng, cleared by Javier Mascherano with a header. From the clearance, Barcelona got another movement ahead, with Suarez getting a shot at the goal.

42' - Another anxious moment for Bayern with Messi, Neymar and Suarez threatening with some short passing in front of the goal.

40' - Juan Bernat linked up pretty well with Thiago Alcantara on the near corner. But once again, Barcelona defenders made a short work of the attack.

39' - Manuel Neuer was called into action once again as Dani Alves produced a low drive, running in from the left flank. But the German goalie stooped low block the ball.

37' - Robert Lewandowski produced a brilliant dummy to turn his position and control a high ball, but his cross from the far corner failed to reach any of his team-mates. Moments ago, Neuer talked to referee, possibly, for a missile from the crowd.

34' - First Yellow Card of the match to Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard caught Messi late as the Argentine tried to went past a crowded Bayern defence. From the free-kick, Neuer got a easy ball from Messi.

32' - Andres Iniesta eanred a free-kick at the centre. But Barca opted to pulled back, involving goal-keeper to the play.

31' - Thomas Muller throw-in from the left. Then after few tussles near the far corner, the German got inside the Barca box. But to no fruition.

30' - At the half-hour mark, Barca had six attempts on the goal as against three from Bayern. Bastian Schweinsteiger's first real contribution to the match, his efforts from outside the box meant Thiago Alcantara getting a chance to go for a header, which missed the target.

29' - Messi blocked Rafinha and Bayern re-started with their own attack.

27' - A gung-ho Suarez lost the plot and released the ball without any clue, where is was going. Neuer claimed it rather comfortably.

25' - Bayern got their first spell of possession but from the counter, Messi and Neymar and Suarez wasted another chance. Barca's holy trinity is working in perfect unision and with some pace.

24' - Robert Lewandowski got a precise through ball from the midfield, but he failed to beat two Barca defenders marking him.

22' - Javier Mascherano caught Thomas Muller late and referee awarded a free-kick in a dangerous spot for Barca. From the following play, Xavi Alonso wasted the opportunity with a long, direction less loft.

20' - Messi at it again. Brilliant display of dribble and control. He outsmarted two defenders, then curled for the far post. Great attempt.

19 - Messi did usual drill in front of Bayern defence, then the Argentine curled one for Neymar on the right. But the Brazilian was already on a off-side position.

17' - Some acrobatic clearance from a Bayern defender. Then, a long ball from Rafinha reached Thomas Muller. The German set up Robert Lewandowski with a low-cross, but the Polish striker missed the opportunity. First clear chance for Bayern.

16' - Neat play from Barca. Messi linked up with Alves on the left flank, then pushed forward for another attack.

14' - A throw-in for Barca on the right by Alves, from the play, Suarez opened the defence. But Neymar failed to control his tap-in as they settled for a corner instead.

12' - These early minutes, Barca all over Bayern. Even Messi has involved himself in lunging tackles. Intentions are clear from Barca.

11' - Brilliant save from Manuel Never. One on one with an onrushing Suarez, but the German got his long legs extended to block the low drive from the Uruguayan. Moments ago Suarez got a loose ball to initiate a rumbling in Camp Nou.

9' - Barcelona took advantage of a foul on Ivan Rakitic, then Messi and Suarez combined well to breach the Bayern defence. But Bayern defenders are alert enough to cleared the danger.

8' - Slowly, the game is picking up to the desire, expected pace, with both the sides focusing on lot more long balls.

7' - Robert Lewandowski, with his mask, attempted a low drive, but ter Stegen was there for the ball. On the counter, Messi was caught off-side.

6' - Wild kick from Marc-Andre ter Stegen. Barcelona goalie's inteded long ranger failed to reach the half-line and swerved out of the play on the right.

5' - Suarez, certainly carrying on his recent prolific form, is working hard in front as Neymar and Messi opted to stay back.

3' - Little pressing game from Bayern, with Thiago running on the right wing. But from a loose ball, Suarez almost got a penalty. The referee however, judged the tackle from Boateng legal.

2' - Off-side for Neymar, who along with Suarez, was going for a high ball inside the Bayern half.

1' - Bayern started from the centre, then in the only second touch, reached the attacking third. Usual German game.

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Home side Barcelona playing in their 15th Champions League semi-final are in their traditional red and blue colours, while Bayern Munich are in all-whites.

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Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli will conduct the match. He refereed the 2014 FIFA World Cup Final between Germany and Argentina, if that rings a familiar tone ahead of tonight's big game!

And the stage is set

The stage is set. Excited? #UCL pic.twitter.com/JXGFhCxg9p — Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 6, 2015

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Team line-ups are here:

Barcelona XI: Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba, Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.
Subs: Claudio Bravo, Xavi Hernandez, Pedro Rodriguez, Rafinha, Marc Bartra, Adriano, Thomas Vermaelen.

Bayern Munich XI: Manuel Neuer, Rafinha, Medhi Benatia, Jerome Boateng, Juan Bernat, Xabi Alonso, Thomas Muller, Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thiago Alcantara, Robert Lewandowski.

Subs: Pepe Reina, Dante, Javi Martinez, Claudio Pizarro, Gianluca Gaudino, Mario Gotze, Mitchell Weiser.

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This is the match-up everyone is waiting for. German champions Bayern Munich will play Barcelona in the second semi-final of the 2015 UEFA Champions League at Camp Nou. It also marks the return of former Barca manager Pep Guardiola at Barcelona after leaving the Catalans in 2012.

In an unrivaled career, both as a player and as a manager, Guardiola won all everything that's possible to win in club football competition. In a four-year reign, he helped established Barcelona as the ultimate club and oversaw the emergence of Lionel Messi as probably the best player in the world. They won three La Liga and two Champions League titles. That made him the most successful Barca manager. Guardiola himself won six La Liga titles as a Barca player.

So, the talking point ahead of tonight's clash is the return of Pep. And the former defensive midfielder will take on his former team-mate Luis Enrique, when the two sides take out in front of a global audience. Enrique, on his part, is one of the those rare breed of players who have the audacity to play for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. And he is already compared to one of the best coaches Barcelona have, at least, in terms of wins per game, and other myriad of stats.

But there is more to the game besides the managers. Barcelona, thanks to their attacking trident in Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez, are unrivaled when it comes to attacking. But the side also has one of the most effective midfield squad and a mean defensive line. They are, for that matter of fact, are leading the Spanish league ahead of Real Madrid.

For Bayern Munich, after winning yet another Bundesliga title, are eyeing European domination too. And they have the squad to achieve that, despite an ever going injury crisis. The likes of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Philipp Lahm, Xabi Alonso and Mario Gotze will any day walk into any World XI. And consider this, they will be without the dangerous wing duo of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

The last time these two heavyweights met in the Champions League, the Bavarians thrashed Barca 7-0 on aggregate in the 2013 semifinals, including a 3-0 win at Nou Camp. That was another era, under different regimes. Two years on, a repeat of such a result can be ignored, at best. Because, it will mean either of the two sides playing pathetic, pathetic football.

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Possible line-ups

Barcelona XI: Marc-Andre ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets; Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Neymar.

Bayern Munich XI: Manuel Neuer; Rafinha, Jerome Boateng, Medhi Benatia, Juan Bernat; Philipp Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Thiago Alcantara; Thomas Muller, Robert Lewandowski, Mario Gotze.