Germany's only remaining representatives in the UEFA Champions League, Bayern Munich, reminded the world why they are considered one of the favourites to win the competition after romping to a 6-1 victory over FC Porto, giving them a 7-4 win on aggregate.
Before the match, within both managers' press conferences, it seemed crystal clear that a close-fought, intense battle was set to be staged. Bayern boss Pep Guardiola quipped "We have players who were out a long time with injuries ... their legs don't last very long. It's a tough result to take into the second leg, but we'll give it a go", while Porto's manager Julen Lopetgui released cagey, controlled optimism "Now we have produced a situation for ourselves where we can dream, knowing that we will need to give everything we have got to get through. We will need to produce a perfect performance in Germany next week to progress."
In truth however, the affair simply was nowhere near close.
The hosts were missing several key players such as Arjen Robben, Frank Ribery, Bastian Schweinstieger and co. They also came into the game off the back of the controversial resignation of their entire medical team. Porto, on the other hand, were without their influential pair of full backs, as both Danilo and Alex Sandro were suspended for the return leg.
From the off, Bayern asserted themselves as the dominant force of the game, and relentlessly maintained this controlling feature. It was similar to the previous round's overhauling over Shakhtar Donetsk, as the injury-hit XI flawlessly dismantled their visitors' paper-thin defence with relative ease.
Unlike the first leg tie, Porto failed to effectively press, hustle and harass Bayern's defense and midfield and seemingly appeared content to sit back and try and hold on to their 3-1 advantage from the first leg. It was their fatal flaw, in truth.
Bayern applied sustained pressure within the opening 10 minutes, effectively penning the Portuguese side into their own half. Robert Lewandowski was lively, looking to find his range early on with a couple of headers and blocked attempts. And with ten minutes played, the game's first real chance came about.
Bayern counter attacked off the back of a Porto free kick, and after Thomas Muller had stung the palms of Fabiano, Lewandowski's follow-up effort struck the helpless keeper's left hand post and bounced away to safety. Despite the failure to break the deadlock, the signs were ominous.
Four minutes later, and the eagerly anticipated opener arrived for Die Röten. Following some intricate exchange play, full back Juan Bernat's cross was nodded home at the near post by the onrushing Thiago Alcantara, and the aggregate deficit was halved. The Allianz Arena's noise levels somehow increased, as Bayern fanatics attempted to motivate and encourage the comeback.
They weren't long waiting either.
Twenty two minutes in, and Bayern had doubled their advantage for the night, courtesy of centre half Jerome Boateng. The German defender got on the end of Holger Badstuber's header to nod home past the helpless Fabiano, and Bayern now had the advantage courtesy of the away goals rule.
Following the goal, Bayern's pressure remained. In a brief moment of controversy, Juan Bernat and Ricardo Quaresma were involved in a brief spat in which the latter seemingly raised his hand, but no harm was done according to the man in charge, Martin Atkinson, and the game continued. 27 minutes in, and Bayern finally had the outright advantage.
Polish poacher Robert Lewandowski was in prime position to fire home past Fabiano and complete a sumptuous move. Skipper Philip Lahm just about kept the ball in play out wide and managed to hook in a cross for Thomas Muller, who flicked on to Lewandowski, and the Pole made no mistake with the finish.
It was at this stage that Porto boss Lopetgui hauled off young full back Diego Reyes, replacing him with Ricardo in a like for like change. This didn't bother Bayern though, and ultimately failed to effect the flow of the game.
Goal number four came in the thirty sixth minute, as Thomas Muller got in on the act. The German attacker, who had been heavily involved from the off, struck a vicious shot from close to 25 yards out. The attempt took a deflection off of makeshift full back Bruno Martins Indi, and nutmegged the unfortunate Fabiano, who was already in full flight but may well have kept it out. Bayern were rampant, and Guardiola was in his element. The Spaniard was ruthless, pragmatic with injuries and blind to mid-week criticisms. Progress seemed assured, and yet he wasn't content to sit back and merely enjoy the spectacle, instead striving for perfection.
Five minutes later, Bayern were five up and absolutely cruising. Lewandowski neatly sidestepped an attempted challenge within Porto's penalty area before proceeding to rattle the ball home into the back of Fabiano's net to complete his brace for the evening. The Portuguese club simply had no reply to the rampant Reds attacking prowess and sheer domination.
Half time arrived with the scoreline reading pleasantly for Guardiola's side. Porto had been decimated within a wonderful twenty six minute passage, as another Munich masterclass stamped with Pep's authority winded it's way around the breathless Allianz Arena.
Lopetgui introduced Ruben Neves for the ineffective Quaresma following the break, as Porto attempted to attain a foothold in the game and keep the scoreline somewhat respectful. The game died within the opening 20 minutes of the second half, with Porto enjoying a spell of possession within their own defensive territory and Bayern allowing them the ball due the luxury of their clear advantage.
Chances were few and far between, with Xabi Alonso's free kick sailing over the bar, and Maicon almost inadvertedly scoring an own goal. Evandro replaced the disappointing Yassine Brahimi with 25 minutes remaining, and just four minutes after his introduction, his side found a consolation goal.
Jackson Martinez, who had largely been kept quiet other than receiving a yellow card for simulation, headed home from six yards out after some clever link up between substitutes Ricardo and Evandro. The Colombian looked slightly offside, but the goal stood. Two minutes later, Martinez weaved away from two challenges and fired just wide of Manuel Neuer's post, and Bayern sparked back into life.
Similar to Martinez, Lewandowski constructed a chance of his own with some neat control and dribbling, only to fire to the wrong side of Fabiano's right hand post. Five minutes later, Porto centre back Marcano was sent off for a second yellow card, following the Spanish defender's rash challenge on Thiago.
To make matters worse, from the resulting free kick, Xabi Alonso completed the rout. The Spanish holding midfielder curled an exquisite effort into Fabiano's top corner and set the result in stone. Full time came, and Bayern had triumphantly proved many wrong, winning emphatically and securing safe passage to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Attention now turns to Wednesday evening's clashes between Monaco and Juventus as well as the two Madrid clubs. Guardiola's former employers Barcelona also rolled into the semi-finals, overcoming Paris St. Germain. Bayern, and Guardiola, will be quietly confident that they can overcome any remaining opposition to lift the trophy in Berlin in late May, and return the trophy to the Allianz Arena for the sixth time.