The Year of the Bundesliga

No longer are the Spaniards moguls of European club soccer, as was displayed recently in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. Spanish clubs Barcelona and Real Madrid were not able to crack the German code in Bortussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Even the German media were able to predict a Spanish butt whooping in an ad they ran during the Champions League.

Madrid were defeated by Dortmund 4-3 in aggregate. In the first leg, Los Merengues were beaten

4-1; they were showed up by Dortmund's one-man show Robert Lewandowski, who netted all four goals. Lewandowski's stock sky-rocketed after his classic performance, stewing transfer rumors with teams including Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Despite a 2-0 victory against Dortmund in the second leg, Madrid just didn't have enough goals to advance themselves into the finals.

Not even Master Tactician Jose Mourinho, coach of Real Madrid, was able to pull a page from his precious book to help overcome a huge deficit - almost, but no cigar, Jose! His days in Madrid now become numbered as the rumor is that he will be moving on to coach his former team in Chelsea.

  
On the other side of the bracket, Barcelona had no such success against a strong, well-coached Bayern side; the Blaugranes were trounced 7-0 in aggregate. Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova and his defense looked puzzled during the first leg with an injured Lionel Messi ineffective in a 4-0 defeat. Vilanova was criticized after the game on whether he should've played Messi or not. Why not play the 2012 Ballon D'Or winner?!

So Vilanova silenced his critics by benching his star forward for the entire length of the second leg; yes, I did not stutter: "Lionel Messi DID NOT PLAY in a Champions League semi-final game." He sat and looked on helplessly from the bench, watching his teammates get out-sprinted by the blazing speed of Franck Ribery and out-hopped by the German sensation Thomas Müller. The Bavarians kept the pressure on as they defeated Barca, 3-0.     

Now, both victors will move on to Wembley Stadium in London, where the UEFA Champions League final will take place. It's an all-German final and what a showdown it should turn out to be. All Hail the Bundesliga!