Can 'fatigued' Bayern Munich recover from Pep Guardiola's 'worst performance?'

The Bavarians, chasing a treble of domestic and European titles, travelled with only 15 available outfield players to Portugal for their quarter-final first leg leaving injured Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bastian Schweinsteiger and David Alaba, among others, behind.

And although Pep Guardiola's side were missing a number of key figures, it was a lack of concentration that proved Bayern's downfall as they conceded three sloppy goals, each coming from an individual defensive mistake.

What had been for much of the season their strongest asset - Bayern conceded just four goals in their first 17 Bundesliga games - was on Wednesday their Achilles heel.

Jerome Boateng, Xabi Alonso and Dante, all lost possession or control near the box, allowing the Portuguese outfit to score as former Chelsea man Ricardo Quaresma helped himself to a brace whilst Jackson Martinez added the final blow.

And despite the Bundesliga side's defensive ineptness on the night, senior figures at the Bavarian club placed the blame for the defeat on fatigue and injuries, rather than poor individual performances.

"I am not fully dissatisfied with the team. We tried everything but it is not easy against such a physical team. It is a complicated result but we will take a shot at it in the return leg and we will not give up that easily. We have players who were out a long time with injuries ... their legs don't last very long. It's a tough result to take into the second leg, but we'll give it a go.”

"I am not prepared to criticise the team. There are 13 or 14 players who are at the moment healthy and have been playing three times a week. But there comes a day when you are a little bit tired, when your legs feel heavy and when you lack some of your concentration."

Peter Staunton (Goal.com): What is it they say about best laid plans? Bayern Munich’s idea to shackle Porto by depriving them of the ball expired within a minute of this Champions League quarter-final; for that is how long it took for Xabi Alonso to commit the first major error on a wretched, mistake-ridden evening for the German champions elect. It was an inexcusable performance. What absolutely cannot be tolerated in Guardiola’s high-wire act is carelessness. Jerome Boateng was hopelessly out of step on that decisive third goal. Those mistakes notwithstanding, there was still a certain cowardliness about the manner in which Bayern tried to approach this one.

Bayern may well have been missing three of their best players for the encounter at the Estadio do Dragao but that is absolutely no excuse for their careless performance in the disastrous defeat to Porto. Guardiola's side were utterly abysmal in Portugal, with three of their most senior players all guilty of schoolboy errors on the biggest stage. However, despite the performance and the result, they still remain in the tie and a 2-0 win at the Allianz Arena would see them through to the semi-finals on the away goals rule. Guardiola will also be boosted by the return of Ribery and Schweinsteiger, who are both expected to be fit for the return leg. Porto manager Julen Loptegui said his side will have to play a 'perfect' match in Germany, and although they are unbeaten in the Champions League this season, that will almost certainly be the case if they are to overcome Bayern and make the last-four.