The epic match was over, but Thomas Müller had one more duty to fulfil. The home faithful chose him to lead the collective celebrations after the 6-1 gala thrashing of Porto, so Germany's top scorer in the Champions League with 27 goals clambered onto the catch fencing, seized a megaphone and introduced the traditional victory chant, Humba Täterä!

"I had a few problems with the device," Müller later grinned, "I'd definitely have done better with my voice alone than with the megaphone." But the striker accomplished the task and a fully deserved party began.

'Never give up'

The fans were identified for special praise by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "They were incredibly good," the chairman said, "they gave it everything and drove the team on." The south terrace loyalists pulled off a masterstroke even before kick-off, as Manuel Neuer noted: "The crowd mosaic showing 'niemals aufgeben' (Never Give Up) was a perfect fit to the match."

Jérôme Boateng saluted the fans' contribution to the ultimately emphatic victory over FC Porto. "The crowd urged us to get forward and it was a great help," said the most prolific defender of the current Champions League season: Jerome has three goals and as many assists so far. And who knows: perhaps the FCB fans will cheer their heroes all the way to Berlin.