Bayern have done it again. After the 2-2 draw at Arsenal in the first leg, Thomas Tuchel’s team won 1-0 in front of their home crowd. It was the 23rd (!) time in the 26th attempt that Munich advanced after a draw in the first leg. Thanks to the narrow but deserved success, they secured their first semi-final participation in the Champions League since 2020 – the year in which they last brought the “handle pot” to Munich.
The decisive scene of the game occurred in the 63rd minute when Raphaël Guerreiro got the ball on the left side and, after a quick hook, crossed centrally to the middle. There, full-back Joshua Kimmich stormed in with speed and powerfully headed Bayern into the lead. It was the reward we deserved at this point for a controlled performance, particularly in the second half. Shortly after the restart, Leon Goretzka and Guerreiro both failed because of the aluminum.
Lack of penetration among the “Gunners”
As a result, Bayern were no longer shaken. Arsenal barely managed to get dangerously close to the opponent’s goal. The best opportunity belonged to Captain Martin Odegaard in the 87th minute when he made space in the box and tested Manuel Neuer in the near corner. But he couldn’t be fooled.
Even in the 4 minutes of added time, Bayern’s defense simply couldn’t be broken. After a cleared corner in the 95th minute, referee Danny Makkelie whistled off the game – sparking huge celebrations in the Allianz Arena. The possibility of ending this messed up season with a title still exists for Bayern.
No goals in the first round
The first half had only a few highlights. At Bayern, Noussair Mazraoui narrowly failed from a tight angle in the 23rd minute, and 8 minutes later Gabriel Martinelli missed the best opportunity of the first half. The Brazilian cleverly ran free in the penalty area, but shot straight into Neuer’s hands from a central position. It was a chance that cost Arsenal dearly. It was supposed to be her last compulsive of the game.
This is how it continues
In the semi-finals of the Champions League there will be a clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. The other duel is Paris St-Germain – Dortmund. The first legs will take place on April 30th/1st. May take place, the second legs on the 7th/8th. May. The final will take place on June 1st at Wembley Stadium in London.