UCL: Man City to face Madrid in semi-finals after seeing off Bayern Munich
Manchester City booked their spot in the semi-finals to set up a clash with Real Madrid courtesy of a 4-1 aggregate success over Bayern Munich.
The Citizens had a huge advantage to bring into the second leg of Wednesday’s quarter-final at Allianz Arena following a 3-0 victory in the opening match in Manchester last week.
Looking to become only the fifth team in Champions League history to overturn a first-leg deficit of three goals or more, Bayern immediately took the game to City. It was not until the 17th minute that they carved out a clear opening, however, Leroy Sané racing in behind only to dink wide with just Ederson to beat.
City were in the unusual position of ceding possession, but their patience looked to have paid off when Dayot Upamecano was adjudged to have handled inside the penalty area. Erling Haaland – he of 47 club goals this season, no less – stepped up, but blazed over.
Though Kingsley Coman and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also threatened as half-time loomed, City stood firm. They might have pulled further clear early in the second half had Haaland applied a more emphatic finishing touch to a smooth counterattack from his side.
Bayern weren’t “surfing the momentum” as Thomas Tuchel had hoped, but they were still in this. Or so they thought. Just 16 seconds after Coman had flashed across goal, Kevin De Bruyne slotted to Haaland, who danced past Upamecano before stroking the ball beyond Yann Sommer.
Bayern continued to pour forward and did eventually pull one back when Joshua Kimmich slotted his spot kick down the middle after Manuel Akanji had been penalised for handball, but time was up.
Bayern’s focus will now be solely on the Bundesliga, with Tuchel’s side only sitting two points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table.
Man City, meanwhile, will take on Sheffield United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup on Saturday before welcoming Premier League leaders Arsenal for a gigantic contest next week.
