Bayern Munich Arsenal march on to Champions League semifinals while Real Madrid and Sporting bow out
Bayern Munich will play PSG and Arsenal will face Atlético Madrid in the semifinals
Luis Díaz’s 89th-minute goal broke a 4-4 aggregate deadlock and helped Bayern Munich take out Real Madrid during Wednesday’s April 15 Champions League quarterfinals.
Leading 2-1 heading into the second leg, Bayern Munich were immediately put on the back foot when Arda Güler leveled for Real Madrid in the opening minute after a giveaway by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
That goal was answered, however, five minutes later by Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlović, who headed home a corner kick.
The two goals in the opening minutes were a preview for a wild and action-packed first half between the European giants. Güler would score again on a 29th-minute free kick, which was followed by Harry Kane’s 50th goal of the season nine minutes later. Just before halftime, Kylian Mbappé leveled it at four on aggregate with his 70th career Champions League goal in only his 98th game.
The final 45 minutes didn’t have as many goals, but the tension was in the air at the Allianz Arena. It looked as if the match might be headed toward extra time, but Eduardo Camavinga picked up a second yellow card for time wasting to put Real Madrid down to 10 men for the rest of the match.
Bayern took advantage and Díaz’s curling shot from outside the box minutes later put the hosts up for good. Five minutes after that, Michael Olise made sure Real Madrid was down for the count with a beautiful curling goal.
Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Sporting was enough to move them on to the semifinals 1-0 on aggregate. The draw kept the Gunners’ Champions League record this season untarnished (10-0-2) as they get ready to face Atlético Madrid in two weeks.
Kai Havertz scored the only goal over the two legs in the 91st minute penultimate week in Lisbon.
This is the second straight season Arsenal has reached the competition’s semifinals, a first in club history. Last year, the Gunners were beaten 3-1 over two legs by eventual champions PSG.
Sporting have now lost their last 11 matches in England and last 11 European knockout matches in a row away from home, which dates back to 1970.
