Humiliating FC Porto, Bayern heart and soul for Pep

Bayern Munich is back among the favorites of this year's Champions League campaign, after the 6-1 victory in the second leg of the quarterfinal over FC Porto, a convincing answer to the flood of doubts that seemed to have swept away Bayern's ambitions after the 3-1 defeat in the first leg.

And, maybe more important, it was Pep Guardiola's brilliant answer after rumors spoke about a near end of the Spaniard's time at Bayern Munich.

Thiago (14th), Jerome Boateng (22nd), Robert Lewandowski (27th/40th), Thomas Mueller (36th) and Xabi Alonso (88th) scored Bayern's goals. Mueller has scored 27 goals in the Champions League, more than any other German player ever. Jackson Martinez scored Porto's goal (73rd).

Now Bayern Munich is back, and Guardiola is back, at least for one night. Bayern Munich not only made it clearly into the next round, their opponents from Portugal were torn to pieces and in the end pulverized by Bayern highest victory in a Champions League's quarterfinal.

And it was an impressive sign of a team playing with heart and soul to support their coach that had been under heavy fire during the last weeks.

As Bayern had scored their fifth goal as early as in minute 40, it was hard to imagine that some football fans in Germany had been tormented with doubt about a team that was missing many of its key figures such as Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Until that stunning victory one thing was clear when talking about Bayern's tactical system: Without Ribery and Robben along the flanks, Bayern most likely would have to change its system and operate mainly through the middle. On top: Many assumed the team would only be half as strong without the unique duet.

"When we are sidelined it is a different game we play," French striker Ribery said in a "Xinhua" interview recently.

Against Porto, Ribery and Robben were sidelined and Bayern played a strong game over the flanks in a 4-3-3 system. Mario Goetze and Mueller took up station along the left and right flank with Alonso, Thiago and Philipp Lahm as their conductor's right behind them in midfield.

Thiago did one of his best games ever for Bayern. The Spaniard was the man in charge. Thiago was Bayern's absolute boss against Porto. Porto never in these 90 minutes managed to stop him. Lahm supported the forwarding game over the right flank. Lewandowski, scoring twice, was in best shape as well. And Goetze's game was much better as it was in the last weeks on top.

In the back: A determined row of four with Rafinha, Boateng, Holger Badstuber and Juan Bernat. No doubt: Bayern's heartbeat was strong that evening despite the so called big son's of Europe's football such as Real Madrid, FC Chelsea and FC Barcelona are still waiting and will be a far more difficult challenge for Bayern.

But for now: The penny has dropped. Bayern (and Guardiola) was full of energy that night. There was a team playing football with the power of an erupting volcano, at least for 45 minutes.

And it might have been a symbol for an energetic Bayern team that night - Guardiola's trousers were split as early as in minute 22, after Boateng had scored the 2-0, as the Spaniard kneeled in his coaching box in his 100th game as Bayern's coach (79 victories, 10 lost games and 11 draws).

Looking at the ongoing campaign in this season's Champions League it might have been an impressive victory against Porto, but in general Bayern is just back to a normal status, and not more than that.

After all not only Guardiola said that he and his club are anxious to win the 2014/2015 Champions League. One thing is clear: To only win the German title and the German Cup would not be enough for Guardiola and Bayern Munich. Meaning: There is a lot more waiting on Guardiola's "to do list".

"I am happy that we will continue to play against Europe's best team," Guardiola said. "People can't expect that we win all of our games. If this is what they expect, I might not be the right coach. I can only tell you: I am very happy to work with such wonderful players. I am impressed how they sharpen their mind for every single game. I love these players and I am proud."

At least fans around the world now seem to be convinced that Bayern Munich is back on track and from now on a serious candidate to win this season's Champions League. For Bayern's semi-final game in Munich over 270 000 fans applied for one of the 70,000 tickets available. Endi