2013 NBA Playoffs: Conference Semifinal Matchups

Eastern Conference

Conference Semifinals



(1) Miami Heat vs. (5) Chicago Bulls
May 6
7:00 pm Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida TNT
May 8
7:00 pm Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida TNT
TBD
TBD Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls United Center, Chicago, Illinois TBD
TBD
TBD Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls United Center, Chicago, Illinois TBD
TBD
TBD Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat* American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida TBD
TBD
TBD Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls* United Center, Chicago, Illinois TBD
TBD
TBD Chicago Bulls vs. Miami Heat* American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida TBD




(2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Indiana Pacers
May 5
3:30 pm Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York ABC
May 7
7:00 pm Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York TNT
May 11
8:00 pm New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana ABC
TBD
TBD New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana TBD
TBD
TBD Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks* Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York TBD
TBD
TBD New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers* Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana TBD
TBD
TBD Indiana Pacers vs. New York Knicks* Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York TBD
Regular-season series
Tied 2-2 in the regular-season series:

November 18, 2012 Recap Indiana Pacers 76, New York Knicks 88 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
January 10, 2013 Recap New York Knicks 76, Indiana Pacers 81 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
February 20, 2013 Recap New York Knicks 91, Indiana Pacers 125 Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana
April 14, 2013 Recap Indiana Pacers 80, New York Knicks 90 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York
Last Playoffs meeting: 2000 Eastern Conference Finals (Indiana won 4-2)


Western Conference

Conference Semifinals



(1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (5) Memphis Grizzlies
May 5
1:00 pm Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ABC
May 7
9:30 pm Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma TNT
May 11
5:00 pm Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee ESPN
TBD
TBD Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee TBD
TBD
TBD Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder* Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma TBD
TBD
TBD Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies* FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee TBD
TBD
TBD Memphis Grizzlies vs. Oklahoma City Thunder* Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma TBD
Regular-season series
Memphis won 2–1 in the regular-season series:

November 14, 2012 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 107, Oklahoma City Thunder 97 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 31, 2013 Recap Memphis Grizzlies 89, Oklahoma City Thunder 106 Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 20, 2013 Recap Oklahoma City Thunder 89, Memphis Grizzlies 90 FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee
Last Playoffs meeting: 2011 Western Conference Semifinals (Oklahoma City won 4–3).



(2) San Antonio Spurs vs. (6) Golden State Warriors
May 6
9:30 pm Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas TNT
May 8
9:30 pm Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas TNT
May 10
10:30 pm San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California ESPN
TBD
TBD San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors Oracle Arena, Oakland, California TBD
TBD
TBD Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs* AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas TBD
TBD
TBD San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors* Oracle Arena, Oakland, California TBD
TBD
TBD Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs* AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas TBD
Regular-season series
Tied 2–2 in the regular-season series:

January 18, 2013 Recap Golden State Warriors 88, San Antonio Spurs 95 AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
February 22, 2013 Recap San Antonio Spurs 101, Golden State Warriors 107 OT Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
March 20, 2013 Recap Golden State Warriors 93, San Antonio Spurs 104 AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas
April 15, 2013 Recap San Antonio Spurs 106, Golden State Warriors 116 Oracle Arena, Oakland, California
Last Playoffs meeting: 1991 Western Conference First Round (Golden State won 3–1).

ISML 2013: Top 16, Stella Division

1. Kanade Tachibana

DEFENDING ISML CHAMPION

2013 ISML AQUAMARINE NECKLACE CHAMPION

2. Ruri Gokou

3. Taiga Aisaka

4. Kirino Kousaka

5. Mikoto Misaka

6. Mio Akiyama

7. Eucliwood Hellscythe

8. Azusa Nakano

9. Yuri Nakamura

10. Haruhi Suzumiya

11. Saber

12. Shana

13. Yui-nyan

14. Ayase Aragaki

2013 ISML AQUAMARINE BRACELET CHAMPION

15. Yuki Nagato

16. Yui Hirasawa

ISML 2013: Top 16, Nova Division

1. Kobato Hasegawa

2. Mashiro Shiina

3. Kuroyukihime

4. Asuna Yuuki

5. Rikka Takanashi

6. Eru Chitanda

7. Sena Kashiwazaki

8. Nanami Aoyama

9. Inori Yuzuriha

10. Shinka Nibutani

11. Kurisu Makise

12. Yui

13. Nyarlathotep

14. Momo Beila Deviluke

15. Karuta Roromiya

16. Yozora Mikazuki

ISML 2013: BoBA Tiara Odds, May 3, 2013

Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
2013 International Saimoe League Tiara Odds
As of 9:03 p.m. PT, May 3, 2013

Kanade Tachibana EVEN
Mashiro Shiina 5-4
Kobato Hasegawa 3-2
Ruri Gokou 2-1
Taiga Aisaka 5-2
Kuroyukihime 3-1
Kirino Kousaka 7-2
Asuna Yuuki 4-1
Rikka Takanashi 9-2
Mikoto Misaka 5-1
Eru Chitanda 11-2
Mio Akiyama 6-1
Eucliwood Hellscythe 13-2
Sena Kashiwasaki 7-1
Nanami Aoyama 15-2
Azusa Nakano 8-1
Yuri Nakamura 17-2
Inori Yuzurika 9-1
Shinka Nibutano 19-2
Haruhi Suzumiya 10-1
Kurisu Makise 11-1
Saber 12-1
Yui 13-1
Shana 14-1
Yui-nyan 15-1
Nyarlathotep 16-1
Momo Beila Devilule 17-1
Yuki Nagato 18-1
Yui Hirasawa 19-1
Karuta Roromiya 20-1
Yozora Mikazuki 21-1
Konjiki no Yami 22-1
Hinagiku Katsura 23-1
Touka Takanashi 24-1
Hitagi Senjougahara 25-1
Victorique de Blois 30-1
Nagisa Furukawa 31-1
Last Order 32-1
Mikan Yuuki 34-1
Rin Natsume 35-1
Erio Touwa 37-1
Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La Valliere 40-1
Nymph 50-1
Ririchiyo Shirakiin 55-1
Shinobu Oshino 60-1
Noumi Kudrayvka 65-1
Tomoyo Sakagami 70-1
Aria Holmes Kanzaki 75-1
Suguha Kirigaya 80-1
Keiko Ayano 90-1
Mei Misaki 95-1
Shouko Kirishima 100-1
Homura Akemi 105-1
Kyou Fujibayashi 110-1
Mato Kuroi 120-1
Charlotte Dunois 125-1
Nadeko Sengoku 150-1
C.C. 175-1
Illyasviel von Einzbern 200-1
Masami Iwasawa 225-1
Subaru Konoe 250-1
Meiko Honma 275-1
Yui Kotegawa 300-1
Rea Sanka 400-1
Rin Tosaka 500-1
Karen Araragi 750-1
Tsukihi Araragi 750-1
Konata Izumi 1000-1
Holo 2500-1
Fuuko Kurasaki 5000-1

ISML 2013: Kanade has done it again!

ISML 2013: Kanade has done it again!
Tachibana defends Necklace, Ayase Aragaki takes Bracelet

By JR Salazar
May 3, 2013

There were no surprises in the 2013 International Saimoe League Aquamarine Necklace Match on Match Day 8 of the 2013 ISML Aquamarine Necklace Period. Kanade Tachibana, the defending champion, came into the match as a prohibitive favorite and took home top honors, winning 3,052 votes and a necklace score calculation of 66.546 to defend her Aquamarine Necklace.

"What a night for myself, my husband Yuzuru, my son Kazero, and all my friends here and around the world," Tachibana said at a press conference in Tokyo. "I don't think my Tiara defense is going to be a walk in the park, but I am pretty confident that at the very least, I'm hanging on to this necklace.

"To all the voters who supported me, we're just getting started. My goal is to make history and be the very first two-time International Saimoe League Champion. My detractors may say it's a tall, impossible task, but I say right back, when the going gets tough, the tough Hand Sonic their way to the Promised Land. Actually, I made that myself. You can quote me on that. This is an immense honor, and our team is ready to keep the momentum going.

"Fasten your seatbelts, we have not yet begun to Saimoe now."

Mashiro Shiina's stock is on the upswing. She won 1,471 votes to finish with a calculation of 47.151. Shiina applauded Tachibana's victory but did issue a warning.

"I don't think anyone was going to be surprised by that result," Shiina said at her press conference at Suimei University of the Arts. "However, I will issue a warning to Ruri [Gokou], who holds the Amethyst: I'm coming for you, and I'm ripping that necklace from you neck this month. You've warned, little kitty. You've been warned."

"You have to forgive my fiancee, she is fired up for these moments, as you can see," said an embarrased Sorata Kanda, the significant other of Shiina.

As for Gokou, she didn't do particularly well: she earned 1194 votes for a calculation of 39.323 and fifth place.

"Mashiro's a pretty tough cookie, and so is Kuroyukihime," Gokou said at her press conference outside Tokyo Big Sight. "But I am not going to give up my Amethyst easily. They will have to battle for it, and I am confident, with Kyousuke-nii-chan as my witness, that I will prevail."

Kuroyukihime was third with a calculation of 40.573 after earning just 1,051 votes. Stuck in the past for the duration of the ISML with her future husband Haruyuki Arita, the woman the gaming world calls Black Lotus was contest with the proceedings.

"No, I'm quite happy with how the results turned out and I think this is a good thing," Kuroyukihime said at the press conference, holding the gaming form of Arita-a round plushy pig-like a rugby ball. "I'm holding the source of my motivation with me. My pride and joy, Haruyuki-kun. I am very confident that I can win a necklace later on, but if not, I do expect to be in the Top 16 by the time the regular season ends."

Kobato Hasegawa was fourth, with a calculation of 40.455 after winning just 808 votes.

"I don't think I am going to win a necklace this year," Hasegawa said, in tears. "The other guys are just too good. I'm just hoping to make the cut for the postseason. I'm devastated by these results. Really devastated."

Taiga Aisaka was sixth, with a calculation of 38.343 after winning 1,387 votes.

"I've won the Topaz before and I think it's a great opportunity for me to reclaim that necklace again," Aisaka said at a press conference in Osaka, her husband Ryuji Takasu by her side. "I bring a lot of experience, and plenty of leverage in terms of fan support. Of course, that's later this year, and I might win one of the other ones instead, but I think I have what it takes to win a necklace this year.

"If there ever was an ISML Hall of Fame, I want to be in on the first ballot, but it's up to the event organizers to create something like that. Anyway, I'm ready to win back the Topaz because that's my calling card in terms of jewelry. This result for the Aquamarine was pretty much as planned. Kanade's a winner, a champion, and deserving of her necklace defense."

Holding up the rear was Kirino Kousaka, who earned 27.522 after managing just 516 votes.

"I guess I'm not moe enough to win the hearts of the voters," Kirino said with a shrug at her press conference at Tokyo Big Sight. "I don't think I had much of a chance but I would loved to at least earned a thousand votes. At least Ruri and Ayase did their part, so good for them, I guess."

Indeed, Ayase Aragaki won the Aquamarine Bracelet, winning 2,195 votes. In a further surprise, Homura Akemi was second with 1,362 votes. Yui Kotegawa was third with 1,266 votes, Nymph was fourth with 1,237 votes, Ui Hirasawa was fifth with 1,208 votes, Subaru Konoe was sixth with 1,165 votes and Rea Sanka was last with 995 votes.

"This is a big win for me because not only did I win something from this period, my Memphis Grizzlies are defeating the Los Angeles Clippers," Aragaki said in a interview from an izakaya in Tokyo. "Now, Nanami [Aoyama] is a huge fan of the Clippers, so, she's gotta be feeling really bad about this, but that's sports for you. These types of victories just give you a good feeling."

Four other exhibitions took place on Thursday. In the first exhibition, Neko Defeated Tsubasa Hanekawa, 1711-1506. Fate Testarossa was third with 1412 votes, Sakura Kinomoto was fourth with 1326 votes, Irisviel won Einzbern was fifth with 1274 votes, Mei Sunohara was sixth with 1155 votes and Kyon no Imouto was last with 824 votes.

In the second exhibition, Hanbee Takenaka defeated Kyouko Toshino 1916-1544. Mami Tomoe was third with 1534 votes, Iori Nagase was fourth with 1262 votes, Misuzu Kamio was fifth with  1030 votes, Yuuki Katagiri was sixth with 941 votes and Mio Sonozaki was last with 705 votes.

Wrapping up the exhibitions, Kanna Makino lynched Tsurugi Yagami 4545-2812 and Amy defeated Izumiko Suzuhara 3605-3234.

Match Day 1 of the 2013 International Saimoe League Amethyst Necklace Period is scheduled for Sunday, May 12, 2013. Vote for your favorite candidates at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate. Also, keep it right here on the Bedlam on Baltic Avenue for continuing coverage of the world's premier character competition...the International Saimoe League!

TOP 16, Nova Division

1. Kobato Hasegawa

2. Mashiro Shiina

3. Kuroyukihime

4. Asuna Yuuki

5. Rikka Takanashi

6. Eru Chitanda

7. Sena Kashiwazaki

8. Nanami Aoyama

9. Inori Yuzuriha

10. Shinka Nibutani

11. Kurisu Makise

12. Yui

13. Nyarlathotep

14. Momo Beila Deviluke

15. Karuta Roromiya

16. Yozora Mikazuki

TOP 16, Stella Division

1. Kanade Tachibana (C) (AQ)

2. Ruri Gokou

3. Taiga Aisaka

4. Kirino Kousaka

5. Mikoto Misaka

6. Mio Akiyama

7. Eucliwood Hellscythe

8. Azusa Nakano

9. Yuri Nakamura

10. Haruhi Suzumiya

11. Saber

12. Shana

13. Yui-nyan

14. Ayase Aragaki

15. Yuki Nagato

16. Yui Hirasawa

BoBA 2013 ISML Predictions: Aquamarine Match Day 8

ARENA 01: [Tachibana Kanade] Hasegawa Kobato Gokō Ruri (Kuroneko) Shiina Mashiro Aisaka Taiga Kuroyukihime Kōsaka Kirino by >=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 02: Kinomoto Sakura Kyon no Imōto Neko [Fate Testarossa] Irisviel von Einzbern Hanekawa Tsubasa Sunohara Mei by <=1000
Over/Under: 10000
Over

ARENA 03: Takenaka Hanbee [Nagase Iori] Toshinō Kyōko Tomoe Mami Katagiri Yūhi Sonozaki Mion Kamio Misuzu by >=1000
Over/Under: 10000
Under

ARENA 04: Kotegawa Yui Hirasawa Ui [Nymph] Aragaki Ayase Sanka Rea Akemi Homura Konoe Subaru by <=1000
Over/Under: 11000
Over

ARENA 05: [Makino Kanna] Yagami Tsurugi by >=2000
Over/Under: 11000
Under

ARENA 06: Amy [Suzuhara Izumiko] by <=1000
Over/Under: 10000
Under

This one's for you, Atticus.

PORTLAND, Ore. — After missing his team’s final soccer game last season because of cancer treatment, 8-year-old Atticus Lane-Dupre made sure his teammates were in on his wish to scrimmage against the Portland Timbers.

On Wednesday, the Timbers and Make-A-Wish Oregon treated Atticus’ team, the Green Machine, to a game at Jeld-Wen Field. More than 3,000 fans came out to lend their support.

The Green Machine beat the Timbers, 10-9. Atticus scored the winning goal off a corner kick in the final minute. Portland coach Caleb Porter, leading the Green Machine for the occasion, lifted Atticus in celebration.

“Just how we drew it up,” Porter laughed.

Atticus’ response afterward was typical of a star-struck 8-year old: “I had lots of fun.”

The Timbers Army supporter’s group turned out en masse and provided songs and chants, tweaked a bit to honor the Green Machine. Commemorative scarves were made for the event and the Timbers set up a locker room for their young opponents. Hanging in each locker was a green jersey with the boys’ names imprinted on the back.

A Make-A-Wish Oregon spokeswoman says it is the first time it has ever granted a game against a professional sports team. It also was the most community involvement the organization has seen.

“Atticus wanted to involve his entire team because they have been so supportive of him throughout his treatment,” spokeswoman Tracey Lam said. “That touched our hearts, and the Timbers really stepped up and made it magical for him.”

Atticus found out he had cancer when he was kicked in the stomach by a soccer ball during recess. When the pain did not subside after several days, his worried parents took him to the doctor. A cancerous tumor was found on one of his kidneys.

After his kidney was removed, Atticus had to endure several rounds of chemotherapy. That meant missing games with The Green Machine.

“I think he was kind of sick of all the attention for having cancer,” his mom Jennifer Lane said. “So he picked something his whole team could do.”

Among the Timbers players who lost to the Green Machine were Darlington Nagbe, Will Johnson, Jack Jewsbury and Mikael Silvestre. Porter and assistant Sean McAuley coached the teams.

“When a team like the Green Machine comes in it puts pressure on you,” Jewsbury said afterward, smiling. “It’s really tough.”

Apart from the loss to Atticus’ squad, the Timbers are riding a franchise-best six-game undefeated streak under Porter, new to the team this season after coaching at the University of Akron. Portland is coming off a 3-2 road victory over Sporting Kansas City and will face the New England Revolution at Jeld-Wen on Thursday night.

After the match, Will Johnson exchanged jerseys with Atticus.

“It’s the first and only time in my career I’ll ask for somebody’s jersey,” Johnson said as he proudly donned the too-small No. 1 Lane-Dupre jersey.

2013 UEFA Champions League Final: Bayern Munich vs. Borussia Dortmund

MADRID -- Borussia Dortmund needed every bit of its first-leg advantage to stave off a comeback attempt by Real Madrid and reach the Champions League final for the first time since 1997.

Karim Benzema scored in the 83rd minute and Sergio Ramos in the 88th, putting Real Madrid in position to advance with one more goal. But Dortmund held on for a 4-3 aggregate win following a 2-0 loss Tuesday night.

"They put a lot of pressure on us," Dortmund midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz said. "However, we are a great club and deserved to go through."

Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich has a four-goal advantage on Barcelona ahead of Wednesday's game. The Champions League final is May 25 at London's Wembley Stadium, setting up the possibility of the first all-German final in soccer's top club competition.

"Wembley will be one of the greatest moments in our lives, but whichever team we meet, we will not be the favorite," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said. "In Wembley everyone will see we are not going to be satisfied with just being a finalist."

Madrid, which has not reached the final since winning its record ninth title in 2002, was eliminated in the semifinals for the third straight year under coach Jose Mourinho. Trailing Barcelona by 11 points in the Spanish League with five games left, Real's only realistic hope for a title this season comes when it hosts Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final on May 17.

Mourinho is expected to leave after his third season, perhaps to return to Chelsea in England's Premier League. Asked whether he will remain with Madrid next season, Mourinho replied: "Maybe not." He then said, "I love to be where people love me to be."

"I know in England I am loved. ... I know I'm loved by some clubs, especially one," he said. "In Spain the situation is a bit different because some people hate me."

Dortmund's last visit to the final since 1997 was a 3-1 victory over Juventus at Munich's Olympic Stadium for its only European title.

Robert Lewandowski, who scored all four goals for Dortmund last week, missed two good chances in the second half, shooting over the crossbar in the 49th and hitting the crossbar a minute later. Diego Lopez kept Madrid in the series when he dived to save Ilkay Gundogan's close-range shot in the 62nd.

English referee Howard Webb called for five minutes of stoppage time, creating a nervy finish after Ramos' goal.

"It's a shame. Sometimes you lose. That is football," Ramos said. "In Dortmund we should have played the way we did tonight. We feel for the fans. It's a shame to have been so close, but the missed chances in the first half were costly."

No team has overcome a three-goal deficit from the first leg in a Champions League knockout stage matchup since Deportivo La Coruna beat AC Milan 4-0 in the 2003-04 quarterfinals for a 5-4 aggregate win.

BARCELONA, Spain -- Bayern Munich beat a Barcelona side missing Lionel Messi3-0 on Wednesday to seal a crushing 7-0 win on aggregate and line up an all-German Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.

Without its all-time leading scorer, apparently not fit from his right hamstring injury, Barcelona failed to seriously threaten Bayern's goal - much less an epic comeback after its 4-0 first-leg defeat.

Bayern forward Arjen Robben opened the scoring in the 49th minute. Barcelona'sGerard Pique scored an own goal in the 72nd, followed by Thomas Mueller's headed goal four minutes later, as Barcelona slumped to its first home loss in European competition since 2009.

Bayern will face Dortmund in the final on May 25 at Wembley Stadium.

While fellow Spanish side Real Madrid won 2-0 on Tuesday to almost reverse its 4-1 first-leg loss to Dortmund, Barcelona didn't even come close and definitely didn't bow out of Europe's top-tier competition gracefully.

Instead, its second stinging defeat to the newly-crowned German champions will surely open a period of reflection in the club, despite being on course to win the Spanish league title. The Catalan side has been seriously outclassed for the first time since a trophy-laden era started in 2008 under the guidance of former coach Pep Guardiola, who will take over as Bayern coach next season.

Cracks had already appeared in Barcelona's dominance during the round of 16 with a 2-0 loss at AC Milan, before Messi dug down and scored twice to help secure a 4-0 win.

And after this tie, it's clear that the power has shifted away from Camp Nou further east.

Besides Messi, Barcelona was also missing Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets, Carles Puyol and Javier Mascherano. But the truth is that even with several Spanish internationals on the pitch Bayern, was once again the better side.

Bayern destroyed Barcelona in their first meeting last week, looking both the fresher and more imaginative side, while holding Messi in check without much trouble.

And although Messi had done little in the loss in Germany, nobody had expected him not to start - given that his team faced an already daunting challenge of pulling off a historic comeback.

Since injuring his leg on April 2 against Paris Saint-Germain, Messi's only start had been against Bayern. He had missed three games and come off the bench in two more, including last Saturday's Spanish league game at Athletic Bilbao where he looked to be back in top shape after scoring a superb goal and setting up another in the 2-2 draw.

If coach Tito Vilanova had kept Messi on the bench to spur his other players on, the plan backfired.

Camp Nou was uncharacteristically subdued from the start as if the absence of Messi had robbed the home fans of their last hopes.

Neither side played with the tension expected for a Champions League semifinal; Bayern because it was in command, and Barcelona seemingly lacking in belief.

Needing to score at least four goals to send the game into extra time, Barcelona didn't seriously threaten Bayern's area in the first 45 minutes and was limited to Pedro Rodriguez's rising shot in the 24th to give goalkeeper Manuel Neuer his first save.

Barcelona could muster little else, while Bayern provided a constant threat on the break.

Having failed to complete that last pass in the first 45 minutes, Bayern finally converted just after halftime when Robben received the ball on the right flank, cut back to his left to shake off Adriano, and curled one of his trademark left-footed shots over the outstretched Victor Valdes and into the far side of the net.

Bayern then pressed its advantage and quickly turned a win into humbling of Barcelona.

Pique added to the home side's misery when he kneed Frank Ribery's cross into his own net in an attempt to clear.

Mueller then netted his third goal of the series when Ribery picked him out at the far post to head home his cross over Valdes.