Munich threatens the CL-Aus: Villarreal destroys Bayern’s unbeaten series

Munich threatens the CL end
Villarreal destroys Bayern’s unbeaten streak

4/6/2022 10:53 p.m

In the first leg of the quarter-finals, FC Bayern suffered their first defeat of the current Champions League season. At FC Villarreal, the Munich side are even lucky at times that the deficit for the second leg is so small. Getting ahead is badly endangered without an increase in performance.

Bayern Munich suffered a severe setback in the fight for Europe’s football throne and only averted a complete embarrassment with a lot of luck. On the way to Paris, the dream destination, the record champions, who were largely indisposed, lost in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Villarreal with a deserved 0-1 (0-1). After the first away defeat in the premier class in almost four and a half years, Munich will have to tremble before the second leg next Tuesday (9 p.m. / Amazon Prime and in the live ticker on ntv.de).

“We couldn’t really do it today. We didn’t play the game we wanted. We didn’t have the power offensively, we didn’t have the multitude of chances,” said Thomas Müller at DAZN: “We’ll take the 1-0 with us. And if things went badly, it could have gone higher. We have to prepare for the second leg and fight back.”

Arnaut Danjuma (8th) gave the Europa League winners from Villarreal, who had surprisingly knocked out Juventus Turin in the round of 16, an early lead. The Spaniards had more great chances, while Bayern, led by Torgarant Robert Lewandowski, remained completely harmless.

Four days after the change from Freiburg, young star Alphonso Davies celebrated his comeback in the starting XI after almost four months. The full-back had to sit out for a long time due to heart muscle inflammation after a corona infection. All in all, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann made three changes to his team after the 4-1 win in Freiburg. Davies, Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry played for Tanguy Nianzou, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sané from the start.

FC Bayern cannot find a solution

In front of 23,500 spectators in the sold-out Estadio La Ceramica, Bayern found it difficult from the start, the first offensive efforts posed little danger. Musiala’s first shot was blocked and Benjamin Pavard’s follow-up shot went wide of the target.

And the Munich team also had problems on the defensive. The newly formed back four was dismantled by Villarreal with the first, beautifully executed attack. Giovani Lo Celso found a free-standing Dani Parejo with a pass into the backcourt, who served Danjuma ideally on the five – the Dutchman pushed in ice-cold.

As a result, FCB did not find any solutions to create danger. The table seventh in La Liga compacted the defensive center excellently with two well-organized back four. There was no sign of Lewandowski, and the hoped-for advances from comebacker Davies also failed to materialize. Joshua Kimmich and Musiala also failed to develop. Luck was added to the poor performance shortly before the break: a supposed dream goal by Francis Coquelin was withdrawn after video evidence due to an offside position.

Moreno’s 50-yard shot misses

After the change of sides, Bayern, who lost to Paris St. Germain in the last eight last season, did not come into the game. Gnabry narrowly missed, Müller had tried to keep his foot in the center (50th).

A few moments later, Manuel Neuer would not have had a chance against Gerard Moreno’s shot at the post (53rd) – luck again. Four minutes later, Davies made a save against Moreno. And it didn’t get any better: the otherwise so confident newcomer also played a pass in the feet of the increasingly stronger Moreno. The direct shot from more than 50 meters went wide of the goal (63rd).

Nagelsmann reacted and replaced the disappointing Müller and Gnabry with Sané and Goretzka. Indicative of the desolate appearance of Bayern over long stretches: Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli only had to intervene for the first time in the 66th minute, when Davies shot harmlessly low.