Bayern Munich seal UEFA Champions League semi-final berth with nail-biting win over Arsenal
Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal in the second leg as Bayern Munich edged Arsenal 3-2 on aggregate to set up a UEFA Champions League semi-final showdown with Real Madrid.
Bayern Munich 1-0 Arsenal (Bayern win 3-2 on agg.) Goals:1-0 Kimmich63' (assist: Guerreiro)
Bayern made a bright start with a noisy stadium behind them, with Kane sending two shots wide in the opening six minutes. It was soon clear that chances would not be easy to come by against the supremely organised English Premier League opponents, however, although Noussair Mazraoui and Jamal Musiala both tested the Arsenal goal during a period of dominance. Arsenal shaded possession and posed moments of threat too, with Manuel Neuer called upon to deny Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli before needing to grab a header from former Bayer Leverkusen attacker Kai Havertz. Neither attack was able to make the breakthrough during a tight first half, however.
Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro then rattled the woodwork twice within a matter of seconds in a frantic start to the second period. The game soon settled back into the same tense shape with the sides taking turns to probe with attacks but the feeling being that it would take a moment of magic to force a goal. That came from an unexpected source with Kimmich racing to meet a perfectly weighted Guerreiro cross and send a powerful header straight into the net. Leroy Sané and Kimmich had chances soon afterwards as Bayern surged forward, boosted by the opener, looking to seal the tie. A snapped shot into the side netting from Ødegaard was the best moment Arsenal could provide as they struggled to combat the confident hosts in the final phase. Bayern took the lead expertly over the line to progress to the semi-finals for the first time since 2020, when they went on to win the trophy.
Match stats
Kimmich's goal was his second of the season in all competitions and first of 2024.
Guerreiro provided his second Champions League goal involvement for Bayern (after an assist in the 3-0 win against Lazio in the last 16).
Neuer now has more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in Champions League history - 58.
Bayern have now won eight of their last 14 meetings with Arsenal.
Bayern have eliminated Arsenal from the knockout stages of the Champions League for the fourth occasion after: 2004/05, 2012/13 and 2013/14.
Champions League Quarter-final, 2nd leg Quarter-final, 2nd leg Allianz Arena
Full-time: Bayern 1-0 Arsenal
Bayern are through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League! The Bavarians were the better side here, scoring the only goal through Joshua Kimmich and seeing the game out with ease. They join Borussia Dortmund in the final four, meaning an all-Bundesliga final is still a possibility!
Der Rekordmeister have seen plenty of the ball over the past five minutes, and they have made it count! Kimmich is the goalscorer, heading into the corner from Guerreiro's cross. A little more than 25 minutes, plus stoppage time, for Bayern to hold out for
Almost a disaster for Arsenal there as Gabriel tries to pass the ball back to Raya even though he has come out from his goal. Luckily for the Gunners, the ball only trickles out for a corner.
There is more intensity in this game now, with both sides not willing to give an inch.
47'
Post!
Huge chance for Bayern in the opening seconds! Kimmich's cross is met by Goretzka, who heads onto the post. Then, from the rebound, Guerreiro also hits the woodwork, albeit following a deflection. Statement of intent!
46'
Back underway!
The second half is up and running.
Kick-off!
Half-time: Bayern 0-0 Arsenal
All square at the interval, as well as in the tie! Neither side really threatened to break the deadlock before the break, as they both showed plenty of respect to their respective opponents. Still all to play for in the second period!
White is the next to try his luck, but the right-back's drive is well over the bar.
40'
Havertz header
A free-kick is swung in by Rice, and Havertz flicks it on. It doesn't have enough power on it to beat Neuer, though.
32'
Neuer saves
Martinelli's side-footed attempt is straight at the shot-stopper, who is therefore happy to grasp the ball to his chest.
29'
Ødegaard denied!
A deflection takes the sting out of the Norwegian's efforts, but Neuer still has to scramble to palm it away from the bottom corner. A warning sign for Die Roten!
24'
Save!
Bayern are starting to move through the gears here, as Musiala registers the first shot on target. Raya is equal to it, though, parrying it to safety.
22'
Close
A quick counterattack sees Mazraoui with the chance to find a teammate in the box and, although White intercepts, he almost directs it beyond Raya. Instead, it goes out for a corner, which comes to nothing.
15'
Plenty of respect
Both teams are eager not to give anything we, which has led to an ultimately tentative opening quarter-hour.
A maiden shot from the visitors, as Martinelli tries to curl one into the far corner on his left foot. Like at the end other, though, the Neuer watched the ball sail wide.
6'
Wide
Another Kane attempt, but again, it flies beyond the post, and by some distance. Still, he is getting his eye in and has been involved early on.
4'
Kane shoots wide!
A first half-chance for the hosts as the Englishman pokes a shot wide. It was never troubling David Raya between the sticks, but an opportunity all the same.
1'
Up and running
We're off!
Kick-off!
Players in the tunnel
Kick-off is just a few minutes away!
Semi-final opponents
Either Real Madrid or Manchester City are waiting for the winner of this one - they are also playing tonight, at the Etihad Stadium. It won't get any easier from here!
Just under 20 minutes until kick off
Can Bayern join Dortmund in the final four? Not long until we find out!
Bayern team news
Thomas Tuchel, meanwhile, makes five changes to the side that defeated Cologne at the weekend. One of them was enforced, as Kingsley Coman's injury means he cannot feature here - he is replaced by Leroy Sané - while Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer also return.
Despite picking up an injury in the weekend's 2-0 home defeat against Aston Villa, captain Martin Ødegaard is available and in named in the starting line-up. Former Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Kai Havertz is also included, although he starts at centre-forward tonight.
While Bayern have their own injury issues, the London club were sweating on the fitness of two key players - Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard - ahead of the second leg. Both picked up knocks in their 0-2 defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend.
Harry hot on Kylian's heels...
Harry Kane started the week as 2023/24 Champions League top scorer with seven goals, but a brace by Kylian Mbappe as PSG beat Barcelona 4-1 to set up a semi-final clash against Borussia Dortmund has changed the equation. Mbappe is now ahead with eight goals, with Erling Haaland of Man City and Antonie Griezmann (whose Atletico side were eliminated by Dortmund last night) both on six goals.
Harry Kane on Arsenal
"We have a great opportunity here at home tomorrow. We want to achieve something big. Personally, I want to help the team and score goals. We defended very well [in the first leg] and made it difficult for them to create chances. Tomorrow we'll be playing at home and can build on the energy created by our fans."
"They play a very attractive brand of football at the highest level. We did well in the first leg, but we're only halfway through the tie. We need everything again and hope that playing at home will give us the boost we need."
The Arsenal head coach was asked about his side's recent record in Munich (they have lost 5-1 on their last two visits) in his pre-match press conference, responding: "We have to change it and the opportunity comes there – it’s a lot of things that we can do to write that story very differently tomorrow. It’s going to be about putting in a very, very strong performance, collectively and individually to earn the right to be in the semi-final."
3:35
Watch: All Harry Kane's Bundesliga goals so far
The Bundesliga's 32-goal leading marksman so far this season, Kane is also the top scorer in this season's Champions League with seven, one more than Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Antoine Griezmann have. The England captain, previously of Tottenham Hotspur, has 15 career goals against his former North London rivals.
Personnel latest
Bayern lost Gnabry to injury in the first leg, with Kingsley Coman joining him in the treatment room after suffering an adductor strain against Cologne. Leroy Sané - so effective at the Emirates - was rested at the weekend, but should be fit to start on Wednesday.
2:03
Watch: Bayern 2-0 Cologne - highlights
Bayern were made to work hard for the points against relegation-threatened Cologne on Saturday. Raphaël Guerreiro and Thomas Müller were on target in the second half as Tuchel's men made Bayer Leverkusen wait another 24 hours to secure their first Bundesliga title. Bayern - whose incredible 11-year reign is over - are now in a two-way battle with VfB Stuttgart to finish second.
Arsenal blip
English Premier League title hopefuls Arsenal conceded two late goals in a potentially costly home defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday. The 2-0 reverse leaves them second in the table, two points behind defending champions Man City, with six games to go.
What Bayern need
The record champions will advance to the last four with a win. A draw will send the tie to extra-time (and penalties if it's still all square after 120 minutes) - but an Arsenal victory would send Bayern out and ensure a trophyless 2023/24 campaign.
First-leg recap
Bayern fell behind to an early Bukayo Saka goal in London, before Serge Gnabry scored against his former club to bring Bayern level. A Harry Kane penalty put Thomas Tuchel's team in front, but Arsenal found a way back through Leandro Trossard.
Welcome to live build-up and coverage of Bayern's UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Arsenal on Wednesday. Things are finely poised at the halfway mark at 2-2 following last week's encounter in London.
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First-leg report
Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry were on target as Bayern Munich held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw at their Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final meeting.
Arsenal 2-2 Bayern Munich Goals: 1-0 Saka 12' (assist: White), 1-1 Gnabry 18' (assist: Goretzka), 1-2 Kane 32' (pen.), 2-2 Trossard 76'
Bayern dominated early possession, with Leroy Sané seeing a cross headed clear by Gabriel, but Arsenal had the first real chance when Martin Ødegaard slipped Gabriel Martinelli in for a shot he blazed wide. And the Gunners took the lead soon after when Bukayo Saka turned in the box and hit a trademark left-footed curler into the far corner beyond Manuel Neuer. The Bayern and Germany captain then did well to stop Ben White doubling the hosts' lead, and the Bundesliga champions replied when Gnabry latched onto Leon Goretzka's through-ball to steer home against his former employers. Kane then got his name on the scoresheet, sending David Raya the wrong way from the penalty spot after William Saliba had fouled Sané in the box. Sané should have made it three towards the end of the half but White recovered the danger at the last and it was 2-1 at the break.
Arsenal made a change at the break, with Oleksandr ZInchenko replacing Jakub Kiwior at left-back, and they had the first chance of the second half, too, with Declan Rice lofting a free-kick onto the roof of Neuer's net. Goretzka and Konrad Laimer then fired wide and high respectively at the other end. Thomas Tuchel sent Kingsley Coman into the fray for the final half hour, the Frenchman replacing Sané, and a newly injured Gnabry soon followed him for an early shower with Raphaël Guerreiro taking his place. Arsenal restored parity through a pair of their own subs, though, with Gabriel Jesus' quick feet preceding a fine Leandro Trossard finish. Coman hit the post late on and it ended honours even.
