Bongarts
Barcelona has clinched the Audi Cup after a straightforward 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
Star of the show was Barca's emerging star Thiago Alcantara, who struck in either half to condemn the hosts to defeat, in what was an impressive all-round display from the 20-year-old.
The match was a somewhat low key affair despite the 60,000 packed into the stadium; Bayern fielded nine changes from the side that started the penalty-kick win over AC Milan, while Barca shuffled its pack but included Thiago and Andres Iniesta in its midfield.
It was the Catalan side who enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, but aside from a David Villa free-kick that was palmed to safety by Butt and a half-chance for Jonathan Soriano, opportunities on goal were at a premium.
Bayern should then have taken the lead against the run of play as David Alaba raced clear, but he hesitated with his finish, and Victor Valdes did extremely well to spread himself and block the effort.
The Austrian was made to rue that miss as Barca took the lead on 41 minutes. Maxwell's chipped cross into the area looked for Thiago at the back post, and the young Spaniard leapt higher than Diego Contento to glance his header into the corner.
The flow of play in the second-half was severely disturbed due to incessant substitutions from both sides. Bayern introduced the likes of Toni Kroos, Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller as it sought to peg back the European champions.
However, the new arrivals were left to look on in awe as Thiago all but ended the contest with his second goal of the evening. Finding space at the edge of the area, he expertly curled a shot from all of thirty yards into Butt's top left corner, and took the acclaim from his teammates after another superb outing.
Barca was able to see out the match from there, and after edging past Internacional on penalties on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola's side ruthlessly clinched the Audi Cup on German soil
Star of the show was Barca's emerging star Thiago Alcantara, who struck in either half to condemn the hosts to defeat, in what was an impressive all-round display from the 20-year-old.
The match was a somewhat low key affair despite the 60,000 packed into the stadium; Bayern fielded nine changes from the side that started the penalty-kick win over AC Milan, while Barca shuffled its pack but included Thiago and Andres Iniesta in its midfield.
It was the Catalan side who enjoyed the majority of possession in the opening exchanges, but aside from a David Villa free-kick that was palmed to safety by Butt and a half-chance for Jonathan Soriano, opportunities on goal were at a premium.
Bayern should then have taken the lead against the run of play as David Alaba raced clear, but he hesitated with his finish, and Victor Valdes did extremely well to spread himself and block the effort.
The Austrian was made to rue that miss as Barca took the lead on 41 minutes. Maxwell's chipped cross into the area looked for Thiago at the back post, and the young Spaniard leapt higher than Diego Contento to glance his header into the corner.
The flow of play in the second-half was severely disturbed due to incessant substitutions from both sides. Bayern introduced the likes of Toni Kroos, Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller as it sought to peg back the European champions.
However, the new arrivals were left to look on in awe as Thiago all but ended the contest with his second goal of the evening. Finding space at the edge of the area, he expertly curled a shot from all of thirty yards into Butt's top left corner, and took the acclaim from his teammates after another superb outing.
Barca was able to see out the match from there, and after edging past Internacional on penalties on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola's side ruthlessly clinched the Audi Cup on German soil
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