A Thrilling Match Against Real

Seven goals, and Bayern advances to the semifinals

FC Bayern is through to the Champions League semifinals.(Bild: AFP/KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND)

What a wild soccer thriller! FC Bayern trailed three times in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Real Madrid, yet by the end of the night, they secured their ticket to the semifinals with a 4-3 victory (aggregate score: 6-4).

In Munich, Arda Güler cut Real’s first-leg deficit in just 34 seconds following a major blunder by Manuel Neuer. Aleksandar Pavlovic (6th) equalized before Güler added another from a free kick. Bayern’s latest equalizer by Harry Kane (38th) was countered by Real’s goal machine, Kylian Mbappé (42nd). In the second half, the game was on a knife’s edge. Eduardo Camavinga was shown a second yellow card (86th minute) before Bayern scored the decisive goal. Güler, who had already been substituted, was shown a red card after the final whistle. In the semifinals, Munich will face defending champions Paris Saint-Germain, while Arsenal will take on Atlético Madrid.

Arda Güler scored two impressive goals, but was sent off after the final whistle.(Bild: EPA/RONALD WITTEK)

Real got off to a flying start, but Bayern quickly equalized
The Madrid side, fielding a starting lineup without a single Spanish player for the first time in their Champions League history, needed exactly 34 seconds to equalize the deficit from the first leg. The 40-year-old Neuer—still Bayern’s match-winner in Madrid—made a hair-raising mispass to Güler far in front of his own goal, and Güler immediately finished with his left foot into the empty net. Bayern, who took the field with the same lineup as in the first leg—with Laimer on the left in the back four—were caught off guard in front of 75,000 spectators. David Alaba watched this unfold from the bench on his return to Munich.

Just five minutes later, however, Bayern also capitalized on a mistake by the opposing goalkeeper. Andriy Lunin, who was once again starting in place of the injured Thibaut Courtois, was far too passive on a Joshua Kimmich corner kick, and Pavlovic headed the ball into the net from half a meter out. Bayern were back in the lead but had to be careful defensively with their aggressive tactics against Real’s fast forwards. Laimer had to make a saving intervention against Mbappé, and Dayot Upamecano earned extra applause for a tackle on Vinicius Jr.

Güler’s goal made it 2-1.(Bild: AFP/KARL-JOSEF HILDENBRAND)

Strikers Kane and Mbappé on target
Kimmich forced Lunin into a first save before Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic called a foul by Laimer on Brahim Diaz. Güler positioned himself well and struck with his left foot. Neuer couldn’t hold onto the free kick. Bayern responded once again. While the bench was still appealing for a penalty in a controversial scene, Kane found space in the penalty area and scored his 50th competitive goal of the current season. Shortly thereafter, in a frantic first half, Vinicius Jr. hit the top of the crossbar before drawing three defenders toward him on a counterattack and laying the ball off to Mbappe. The Frenchman scored his 15th goal in this season’s Champions League. Bayern claimed a foul in the build-up, but the VAR did not intervene. Coach Vincent Kompany was shown a yellow card. The Belgian will therefore be suspended for the first leg of the semifinal.

Laimer switched sides after the break following the substitution of Alphonso Davies. It took only a minute for Diaz to create the next big chance. Meanwhile, Neuer kept Bayern in the game with a save on a Mbappé volley. As the match went on, it became clear: the next goal could be decisive for either team. Substitute Camavinga was then sent off with a second yellow card. Before Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa could react, Diaz scored with a deflected shot from just outside the penalty area. Olise put the finishing touch on the match. The 15-time competition winner from Madrid will likely go without a title this season.