Neutralized tactically, Bayern Munich lost to Villarreal (1-0) in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. A deserved victory for Unai Emery’s team.
Kingsley Coman was one of the few dangerous Bavarians.
Big favorite of this quarter-final of the Champions League, Bayern Munich finds itself in great danger before the return match.
Because in the first leg, the ogre of the Bundesliga could only bow on the ground of Villarreal (1-0) at the end of a meeting rich in spectacle!
Bayern without a solution
From the start, the Bavarians imposed a high pressing and settled in the opposing half of the field. The danger began to approach on the Spanish cage, mainly thanks to the overflows of Coman on the right side.
But little by little, Villarreal put their block in place and quickly neutralized the German champion. Better, the men of Unai Emery, very fair in their ball exits, managed to place a few attacks and found the fault thanks to Danjuma (1-0, 8th)! We could expect a big German reaction. But the solidity of the yellow submarine prevented any possibility. Lewandowski, Müller or even Gnabry were almost invisible…
Moreno misses the 2-0 twice!
While on the other side, with great success, the Frenchman Coquelin thought to give Villarreal a double advantage in the 41st minute, before his goal was disallowed for offside. A relief for Bayern who did not fit the slightest shot before half-time! Suffice to say that the Munich residents returned with much better intentions after the break. We finally witnessed a reaction from the visitors whose chances were accumulating, like Gnabry’s strike just next door, or Davies’ recovery on goalkeeper Rulli.
It must however be recognized that the best opportunities remained in favor of Villarreal. The proof is the post that repelled Moreno’s attempt! And the attacker was not far from an exceptional lob after a ball from Neuer! The Spaniards could almost blame themselves after so many opportunities to widen the gap, especially on numerical superiority counterattacks. Fortunately for them, Bayern, after pushing late in the game, will not come back in this first leg. But the second round promises to be just as exciting!
Match score: 8/10
As they say, it takes two teams to make a great match and this Wednesday evening, Villarreal was more than up to Bayern! Despite the block put in place by Unai Emery, his training played an ambitious and sometimes spectacular game. It is no coincidence that the ball went from one goal to another at a crazy pace in the second period!
The goal :
– After a one-two with Moreno, Lo Celso arrives in the area on the right side and crosses with the outside of the foot for Parejo behind. The Spanish midfielder takes a volley but his ball is cut by Danjuma who takes Neuer on the wrong foot (1-0, 8th).
Players’ NOTES
Maxifoot assigned a commented note (out of 10) to each player.
Man of the match: Giovani Lo Celso (8.5/10)
Untenable, the midfielder of Villarreal gave himself a demonstration in the first period! The Argentinian attempted and succeeded in all his technical gestures, starting with his cross from the outside of the foot before Danjuma’s goal. In addition to his technical finesse and passing quality, the former Parisian was very disciplined in his defensive withdrawal. He may regret his little lack of lucidity on a counter that did not succeed.
VILLARREAL :
Gerónimo Rulli (6): not at all solicited in the first period, the former Montpellier goalkeeper did the job in the second act. He remains attentive to the framed recovery of Davies and achieves a reassuring exit for his defenders.
Juan Marcos Foyth (8): impressive in the duels, the right side simply disgusted Gnabry and Davies! He also shone on the relaunch thanks to his complicity with Lo Celso. Replaced at the 81st by Serge Aurier (not rated).
Raúl Albiol (6): well placed, the captain of Villarreal made some important interventions. But he was sometimes on the limit, like when his tackle on Gnabry almost caused a penalty. Or when Musiala dropped him off in a hurry.
Pau Torres (7): both solid and elegant, the Spanish international muzzled Lewandowski. He gets scared on a breakthrough from Musiala which he finally manages to stop twice.
P. Estupiñán (6.5): opposed to a hard-hitting Coman, the left side suffered at the start of the match. His teammates sensed the danger and obviously gave him the right advice as he handled the Frenchman better afterwards. Even allowing a few interesting climbs.
Giovani Lo Celso (8.5): see comments above.
Etienne Capoue (8): what volume of play! Omnipresent in recovery, the ex-Toulousain projected himself as soon as the opportunity arose. This enormous burst of energy did not affect his technical accuracy, nor his ability to get out of the German pressing.
Daniel Parejo (7.5): best known for his technique and passing quality, the Spanish midfielder also impressed on physical impact! It was hard to imagine him competing with the Bavarians in intensity, but he held on well. Better, he can be considered as decisive passer for Danjuma. Then author of a small bridge on Coman.
Francis Coquelin (6): a tone slightly below compared to his midfield teammates, the former Gunner sometimes looked like a third central defender. No doubt an instruction from Unai Emery which succeeded for him since the Frenchman contributed to the discretion of the Müller-Lewandowski duo. Replaced at the 59th by Alfonzo Pedraza (not rated)who missed a great opportunity late in the game.
Gerard Moreno (7): given the quality of his match, the Villarreal striker deserved to score a goal. He spared no effort in his incessant calls for the ball or in depth, the weak point of the German hinge. However, it is on a long shot that he finds the post, before his long lob which ends just off.
Danjuma (6.5): the Dutch striker may not be completely satisfied with his match. Admittedly, he scored the only goal in a match during which his deep calls did damage. But he misses the ball explainably on a huge break chance in the second half! Replaced at the 81st by Samuel Chukweze (not rated).
BAYERN MUNICH :
Manuel Neuer (3): like his team, the Bayern goalkeeper was not in his game. He was surprised on a center-shot from Coquelin, without consequence since the goal was disallowed for offside. Then his loss of the ball in midfield gave Moreno the chance to lob him, and it didn’t go far.
Benjamin Pavard (7): if his compatriots in the defense showed signs of feverishness, the French central defender was the height. He was able to cover his teammates like his return to Moreno. And his position did not prevent him from bringing the surplus in front, with in particular a tense strike above. Replaced at the 71st by Niklas Süle (not rated).
Dayot Upamecano (3.5): known for his athletic qualities, the tricolor international takes forever to turn around on the balls behind his back. Obviously, Villarreal had identified this defect since Danjuma and Moreno feasted in depth.
Lucas Hernández (4): Like Upamecano, the former Atletico Madrid player struggled to manage the mobility of the Spanish forwards. He arrived late on several occasions, as evidenced by the action of the goal where Lo Celso ahead of him in the box.
Alphonso Davies (4): after about three months of absence, we should not expect more. For his return, the powerful left side was hesitant in the first period, then a little more enterprising thereafter. Despite his shot on target, it remains insufficient, knowing that Lo Celso caused him a lot of problems.
Joshua Kimmich (4.5): after a festival of failed transmissions in the first period, the midfielder recovered after returning from the locker room. He put Bayern back in the right rhythm, without however finding the decisive pass.
Jamal Musiala (5): Eaten in intensity before the break, the young Bavarian showed more in the second period. He tried interesting sequences near the Spanish surface, but his attempts always found an opposing foot, or the borderline intervention of Pau Torres.
Kingsley Coman (7): without him, this Bayern would have been harmless. Despite the resistance of his opponent Estupiñan, the tricolor winger was the only enterprising and above all dangerous Bavarian in the first period. He took a chance from long range in the second act and might have found the top corner had it not been for Torres’ save.
Thomas Muller (2): invisible, the Bavarian striker has absolutely no weight. He could have got away with a happy goal but he didn’t react fast enough to deflect Gnabry’s shot. Replaced at the 62nd by Leon Goretzka (unrated)who did not deceive the referee by trying to obtain a penalty.
Serge Gnabry (3): very discreet in the first period, the German winger could not make the difference. His strike right next to the return from the locker room was not enough to convince Julian Nagelsmann, no doubt annoyed by his lack of defensive withdrawal. Replaced at the 62nd by Leroy Sané (not rated)which did not bring the percussion expected by Julian Nagelsmann.
Robert Lewandowski (2): not a single opportunity, not a single good ball to negotiate for the Polish striker. Hence his annoyance when Coman took too long to serve him.
+ Find the results and the Champions League ranking on Maxifoot
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VILLARREAL 1-0 BAYERN MUNICH (mid-time: 1-0) – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – 1/4 final
Stadium: Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal – Referee: Anthony Taylor, England
Goals : Danjuma (8th) for VILLARREAL
Warnings :
VILLARREAL :
BAYERN MUNICH :