Fil-Austrian defender David Alaba provided the only dash in Bayern Munich’s emphatic 8-2 thumping of Lionel Messi and Barcelona in their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal Friday in Lisbon, Portugal.
Bayern had just taken the lead three minutes after the opening whistle on Thomas Muller’s strike when Alaba committed a blunder with an own goal that allowed Barcelona to equalize moments later.
Alaba was looking to clear the ball with his right-foot, only to gift Barcelona by sending it past Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and into the back of the net three minutes after Muller’s opener.
The 28-year-old son of a Nigerian father and a Filipina mother named Gina could only smile at his howler. Luckily for Alaba, the own goal became a mere afterthought after the German Bundesliga champions went on a scoring spree the rest of the way.
Ivan Perisic brought Bayern back in front in the 22nd, Serge Gnabry made it 3-1 in the 27th and Muller completed a brace in the 31st for a 4-1 lead.
Luis Suarez gave Barcelona hope with a goal that reduced the gap to 4-2 near the half-hour mark, but Joshua Kimmich, Robert Lewandowski and two goals from Philip Coutinho sealed Bayern’s place in the semis against either England’s Manchester City or French side Lyon.
The semis is set Wednesday with the final slated Aug. 24, also in the Portuguese capital.
Bayern is eyeing its first Champions League title since beating Bundesliga rival Borussia Dortmund in 2013.
Alaba has been a key part of Bayern’s defense ever since he became a regular first team squad member in 2011.