Ottmar Hitzfeld: 'Power shift from Spain to Germany'

Ottmar Hitzfeld believes that there has been a shift in power in European football from Spain to Germany.

The 64-year-old underlines the comprehensive wins for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund over Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively in the Champions League semi-final first-leg ties last week as evidence of the changing landscape.

"First and foremost I have to say that those were two outstanding performances from Bayern and Dortmund," he told Bundesliga.com.

"The way in which they both won their games was really impressive. If you consider that the Bundesliga leaders beat the La Liga leaders 4-0, and the Bundesliga's second-placed side that of La Liga 4-1, then the goalposts really have been moved.

"There is a changing of the guard taking place, but Dortmund and Bayern need to confirm that in the second legs."

Hitzfeld won the Champions League with Dortmund in 1997 and then with Bayern Munich in 2001.