Champions League 2015: Barcelona vs. Bayern Munich Semifinal Predictions

Bayern Munich had to inflict a vulgar display of power on their opponents in the last round to progress to their semifinal with Barcelona, but the health of their squad could yet scupper their bid for Champions League glory. 

The Bavarian superclub, who recently retained their Bundesliga crown, are without Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Holger Badstuber, David Alaba and Sebastian Rode, per the Mirror, but Robert Lewandowski may make a shocking return after suffering major facial injuries in the German Cup final—with the team hoping he can play with a protective mask.

Here is a preview of Wednesday night's important match and some predictions that will influence the final score:

Barcelona's Holy Trinity to Run Wild

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As good as Bayern Munich are, there is a feeling that Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez have finally attained the devastating chemistry they need to succeed on the grandest stage of all. 

Bayern destroyed the Blaugrana in the 2013 Champions League semifinal, winning 7-0 on aggregate, but the La Liga leaders are in much better shape in modern times. 

However, Barca's record against the German team is not exceptional, with Bayern often coming out on top, per the Champions League official Twitter account:

But this is a Bayern team ravaged by injury and fresh for the picking. It is questionable if they can proceed without Ribery and Robben in their ranks.

Daniel Tejedor/Associated Press

After a slow start to his Barca career, Suarez is proving he was worth the money, and the team finally have a striker who can genuinely lead the forward line. Much like David Villa in years gone by, Suarez can drift wide and find space, but his prowess in front of goal is undoubted. 

Suarez has six goals in seven Champions League appearances this term, per WhoScored.com, and he will be as dangerous as any player on the pitch Wednesday night. 

Barca have scored an astonishing 14 times in their last two La Liga matches, with the Uruguayan collecting five goals, per WhoScored. He is in sensational form—and Bayern would struggle if he was the only attacking opponent on the Camp Nou's hallowed turf.

However, in Messi and Neymar, Barcelona have the perfect balance in their front line, scoring goals for fun and setting up Suarez at will. 

Messi to Steal Back His Crown from Ronaldo

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Real Madrid face elimination after losing to Juventus in their Champions League first-leg clash, offering Lionel Messi the chance to fire Barca to the final and steal back his crown from Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Argentina captain has seen his stock fall in the past couple of seasons as CR7 collects the biggest prizes in the sport.

But things could be about to change with the Catalan superclub's magician back in top form and ready to eclipse his Galactico foe. 

Bayern coach Pep Guardiola claims Messi is currently unstoppable and that his team have no tactics that can hurt the player, per BBC Sport: "There is not a system or coach to stop talent of Messi's magnitude. The way he has been playing over the past four or five months, you cannot stop him. He is too good."

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Miguel Delaney of ESPNFC agrees with Pep but says the great manager will have to dig deep to find a way to beat Messi and his old team:

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Really, it's right now almost impossible to imagine what Guardiola can do, but then that is the real reason he is one of the great coaches. When you think about it, this is the real elite level of sport, one of the game's great thinkers trying to come up with some chess move to try to stop an all-time exceptional attack while still hurting them.

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Messi is once again in outstanding goalscoring form, having recorded 51 strikes in all competitions this year, per WhoScored, and looking to add more to his tally on Wednesday night.

Bayern are a strong unit—even with their injury list—but they will collapse to the brilliance of Messi and Barca on this occasion. Pep knows the Catalans all too well, but he does not have the overtly defensive game in his locker that he needs at the Camp Nou.

The Blaugrana will stroll through to the final and will be prepared for Juventus or their old El Clasico rivals in a dream conclusion. 

Prediction: Barcelona 4-0 Bayern Munich