Have Bayern Munich taken over the top spot from Barcelona?

Bayern Munich’s victory over Barcelona in the European Champions league may be a passing of the baton.

Before the semi-final first leg there was a feeling of symbolic importance in the build-up.

Barcelona have all but wrapped up their La Liga title but somehow seem a little wobbly compared to previous years and Bayern Munich have been a great side for a while who need to use the next month or so to cement a truly lasting legacy.

Now seeing the 4-0 demolition job by the men in red and gold it seems like a statement has been made and possibly a passing of the baton.

It isn’t easy to win the Champions League – just ask Bastian Schweinsteiger how it was meant to end against Chelsea at home last year.

Barcelona has been the defining in Europe for the last half decade or more. They’ve struck fear into the heart of opponents and bagged two Champions League titles while featuring in six semi-finals. That’s amazing quality and consistency.

Bayern has won their Bundesliga title with more games to spare than ever before. But it was always against the rest of the world they need to make their mark.

2001 was the year Bayern last won the Champions League but have been in the final in 2010 and 2012.

They have been the defining German team basically since the 1980s but right now are trying to step atop the highest rung in European football.

Obviously Barcelona could rip the heart out of their opponents with a devastating comeback at the Camp Nou next week, but the way they seemed so deflated and thoroughly overwhelmed in Munich suggests that would be unlikely.

Tito Vilanova may return to full health and inject a new lease of life into his Barcelona squad next year, but it’s not worth betting on.

It appears as if Xavi Hernandez, the fulcrum of the team, is one step short of the every-match-I’m-other-worldly-dominant-ball-player he has been in the past. The team also hasn’t been able to renew their stocks at the back in some time and lack a truly world class threat to accompany Lionel Messi up front.

This isn’t to say they are going to fall apart at the seams – any team with Messi at the point of its attack will be amazing – but the invincibility is gone now. Now the world may turn to Munich to see the absolute highest standard of football.

Bayern has won their Bundesliga title with more games to spare than ever before. But it was always against the rest of the world they need to make their mark. This game was a chance for them to do that and they stepped up to the occasion.

This result doesn’t signal the end of tiki-taka as the in vogue style of footballing power. Barcelona (68%) and Bayern (63%) are the number one and two ranked of all sides in top European competitions for possession.

We are seeing the junior step up to the senior.

During this match Bayern had to adjust their expectations and style to face up against what may be the only team in the world capable of keeping the ball for longer than them.

Even though Bayern play a slightly more direct style than Barcelona, don’t expect them to abandon the keepings-off plan.

Pepe Guardiola has been signed to coach the team from next year and he’s going to be working with some technically brilliant midfielders.

The power of Europe may have shifted to the team that won the first leg convincingly. We’ll all tune in next week just to make sure there isn’t a bit more fight left in the champion.