There will therefore be two German clubs in the semi-final of the Champions League. After the qualification on Tuesday of Borussia Dortmund, who will face PSG, Bayern Munich qualified at the expense of Arsenal (1-0) this Wednesday evening. The Munich residents, who only have the European competition to play after seeing Bayer Leverkusen win the Bundesliga last weekend, dominated the debates against the Gunners who will not return to the last four of the big-eared cup for the third time in their history.
After the draw (2-2) in the first leg, we had to start from scratch, the end of the away goal rule required. If the other quarter-finals of this Champions League have accustomed us to exciting matches, the first period was very calm at the Allianz Arena. Caught against several times in the first leg, the Gunners learned their lesson and remained serious against the Bavarians who dominated the debates in the first act. First twice by Harry Kane (4th and 6th) then by Mazraoui, whose center was deflected for a corner in the 23rd.
Harry Kane, the Bayern Munich striker, stood out in the first half. AFP or licensors
We had to wait until the 24th minute of play to see the first shot on target. Musiala’s work from a distance, diverted by the vigilant David Raya. At the end of the first period, Mikel Arteta’s men showed themselves more with Odegaard (29th) or Martinelli two minutes later.
Two posts offer a reprieve for the Gunners
Everything accelerated upon returning from the locker room, when Goretzka’s head hit Raya’s post on a cross from Kimmich before Guerreiro took the ball and sent it with his left foot onto the same post. Bayern then took control of the match, muzzling the Londoners until Joshua Kimmich opened the score in the 63rd (1-0). On a cross from Mazraoui, the German midfielder appeared out of nowhere to propel a powerful header into Raya’s goal.
At the end of the match, Arsenal did not know how to show their fangs, caught in a pincer movement by the Bavarian defense and an impeccable Laimer-Goretzka pair who were able to silence Bukayo Saka, who scored in the first leg. Under the chants of a burning Allianz Arena, the Germans continued to keep their foot on the ball, even offering themselves some great sequences of play, carried by Raphaël Guerreiro in great form on the left flank. Arteta tried everything, bringing in Nketiah in place of Tomiyasu to switch to a three-man defense.
Arsenal too shy in front
Until the end, Bayern wanted to score the 2-0 goal to take cover, taking advantage of the spaces left by the Gunners who were unable to be more dangerous. On one of the rare occasions in London, the referee designated the 5.50m line following a strike from Odegaard which had nevertheless been well pushed back for a corner. In added time, Saka is called offside on a cross from Rice. Not enough to prevent Thomas Tuchel from playing his third Champions League semi-final with three different clubs after Paris in 2020 and Chelsea in 2021.
With this victory, Bayern reached their thirteenth semi-final of the Champions League. The last time was during the Final 8 in Lisbon in 2020, and the Bavarians went all the way against Paris in the final.
