The title dream lives on: Kimmich heaves FC Bayern into the CL semi-finals

The title dream lives on
Kimmich pushes FC Bayern into the CL semi-finals

April 17, 2024, 10:54 p.m

FC Bayern are in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since winning the title in 2020. The Munich team defeated Arsenal FC 1-0 in the second leg. Joshua Kimmich’s powerful header ensures that the last title dream of the season is preserved.

The final whistle was drowned in a hurricane, after which coach Thomas Tuchel tore himself away from the crowd of cheers in front of his bench and rushed towards his colleague Mikael Arteta. His players were celebrated in front of the south curve like they hadn’t been for a long time, match winner Joshua Kimmich danced exuberantly to the battle cry “Super Bayern – Super Bayern, hey hey”. This was followed by the optimistic chant of “European Cup winners – FCB.”

The dream is alive – and how! A passionate FC Bayern fought its way back into the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time since the 2020 treble thanks to “header monster” Kimmich and a lot of tactical skill. After the emotionally draining 1-0 (0-0) in the quarter-final second leg against the English top team Arsenal FC, the people of Munich can now even dream of a thrilling Wembley reunion with Borussia Dortmund: in the final on June 1st in the London football temple.

If the fickle team shows its best face in the premier class there too, it can crown the short, wild era of Tuchel, who was fully committed until the last minute, and avert the first titleless season since 2012. First, however, the difficult task awaits at the beginning of May against record winners Real Madrid, who beat defending champions Manchester City on penalties.

Mats Hummels is also watching

Kimmich’s header torpedo (63′) set the course for the semi-finals. Afterwards, the German record champions did the only right thing and, driven by Tuchel, made it 2-0, which would have meant the decision after the 2-2 draw in the first leg. The redeeming goal didn’t want to come, not even with Jamal Musiala’s chance (90th) – the rest was still huge celebration.

The 75,000 fans in the sold-out Allianz Arena, including former Munich player Mats Hummels 24 hours after the coup against Atlético Madrid, saw fireworks right from the start: the most loyal Bayern supporters in the south curve lit up persistently, and Tuchel was also immediately up to speed .

The coach corrected and directed a lot. The primary goal: slowing down Arsenal’s strong right side with the lively Bukayo Saka. To do this, he reorganized the left flank. Noussair Mazraoui replaced the suspended Alphonso Davies, Tuchel’s favorite student Raphaël Guerreiro replaced the injured Serge Gnabry.

That meant: original Bavarian Thomas Müller had to wait for his 150th Champions League appearance. Without the veteran, Leroy Sané was even more important as a passer on the right and was wanted. In the fourth minute he beat three men, and Harry Kane took advantage of the following cross from Joshua Kimmich for his first opportunity.

First Tuchel grumbles, then he cheers

After that, the surveillance quickly began – or: “Chess at the highest level,” as DAZN expert Sami Khedira said. Both teams were careful to avoid mistakes and refrained from risky pressing. The Munich game was too static. When things went quickly over Guerreiro, a gap opened up that Mazraoui (23′) almost took advantage of to make it 1-0. It became more open, livelier.

This led to opportunities on both sides, Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli (31′) missed the best one. Tuchel frantically instructed his team to better hold their positions. Then the first excitement: Saka was on the ground after a shot in the face and Mazraoui (35th) suddenly had a clear path to the goal. But referee Danny Makkelie (Netherlands) interrupted and indicated to protesting Munich residents that he had not yet cleared the game.

The second half started with a bang: After Kimmich’s cross, Leon Goretzka headed it onto the post, where Guerreiro’s follow-up shot also landed (47′). Tuchel took advantage of the next interruption and gave Musiala instructions with wild gesticulations. After Konrad Laimer lost the ball unnecessarily in midfield, he complained for a while because he felt that his team had to step up their game.

Kimmich took a corner behind the goal, Tuchel grumbled – and was soon able to celebrate: because of Kimmich. After a run by Sane, the ball fell to Guerreiro, who crossed to the head of the incoming right-back. It wasn’t just the bosses who were knocked out of their seats.