Quarterfinal second leg
Neck blow in the 88th minute: Villarreal throws Bayern out of the Champions League
There he lies: Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller in the penalty area of FC Villarreal
© Christof Stache / AFP
FC Bayern Munich was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. The German soccer record champions did not go beyond a 1-1 draw against FC Villarreal, which was enough for the Spaniards.
FC Bayern is out bitterly! During the attack on the semi-finals of the Champions League, FC Villarreal shocked the German record champions with a late goal conceded at 1: 1 (0: 0) and added a painful knockout to coach Julian Nagelsmann’s ensemble. A week after the 0:1 in Spain, world footballer Robert Lewandowski (52nd minute) brought the vastly superior Munich team on course for victory in front of 70,000 spectators, until substitute Samu Chukwueze (88th) for the previously largely harmless Europa League winner struck.
Now Bayern only has the championship
After the crashing end of the DFB Cup in October due to the 0:5 at Borussia Mönchengladbach and now the premature end of all top class hopes, winning the German championship now has the highest priority.
The Munich offensive controlled the initial phase of the second leg, alongside Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané and Kingsley Coman were supposed to provide danger and goals. Once again, however, Villarreal was the uncomfortable, stubborn opponent, who also relied on time wasting from the start with even short interruptions.
“If you don’t dare, you don’t win,” said Nagelsmann, who had to do without the sick national player Niklas Süle in defense. Bayern got stuck in the opposing penalty area. There was repeated applause from the stands. Musiala tested Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli with a header after a cross from Leon Goretzka (29) – but it was the only major chance of the first half.
Villarreal retreated far. Before the only shot in the direction of Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Arnaut Danjuma was offside (41′). In defense, however, the seventh-placed team in the Spanish league continued to hold up well, with the two central defenders Pau Torres and Raúl Albiol initially having Bayern under control.
Hard work rewards
Musiala tested Rulli again just seconds after the restart (46′). Bayern kept pushing for the goal – and were rewarded by Lewandowski after a strong effort from Coman. The world footballer was served on the edge of the penalty area and skilfully completed the right foot in the lower right corner.
The game was open again and Bayern created more chances to score. Too often, however, the precision was lacking – as with Müller’s header in the 71st minute, which went wide of the goal. That should take revenge – Bayern did not recover from the late goal.