Bayern 1-0 Arsenal (agg: 3-2): Kimmich header takes home side through
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Article summary
Joshua Kimmich's second-half header sent the German side through to the semi-finals for the first time since winning the Champions League in 2020.
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Article body
Joshua Kimmich's second-half header was enough to earn Bayern München a 3-2 aggregate win against Arsenal and propel them into the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Key moments
32': Well-placed Martinelli fires shot straight at Neuer
47': Goretzka and Guerreiro denied by the goal frame
55': Laimer picks up booking to earn one-game ban
63': Kimmich meets Guerreiro cross to head in
66': Sané fires excellent opportunity well over the bar
Match in brief: Kimmich makes difference
After an even, attentive first half the second leg burst into life two minutes after the restart. First Leon Goretzka headed onto the bar, then Raphaël Guerreiro's effort on the rebound was deflected against the post. Suddenly Bayern were in the ascendancy.
Midway through the second period they were ahead as Kimmich met Guerreiro's inviting cross with a firm diving header that gave David Raya no chance. Leroy Sané soon had a golden chance to double the lead and though he blazed over, Arsenal could not muster an equaliser as Bayern contained them expertly.
Not a bad way for Bayern to respond to losing their Bundesliga crown to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday; next up, Real Madrid in the last four.
PlayStation® Player of the Match: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern)
"Bayern's goalscorer was very good on the ball throughout in Munich. He was also defensively very strong, marking Gabriel Martinelli out of the game."
UEFA Technical Observer panel
James Thorogood, Bayern reporter
"Super Bayern, Super Bayern hey, hey!" sang the Fußball Arena München at full time. On a night when experience proved telling, Bayern's big-game players underlined their quality as the German record title holders ended a three-year absence from the Champions League's final four. Kimmich was the match winner to provide a perfect tonic in the midst of the Bavarians' toughest season in over a decade.
Joe Terry, Arsenal reporter
Heart-break for Arsenal, who played so well over two legs against their vastly more experienced opponents and showed they more than belong at the sharp end of this tournament. Unfortunately, however, it wasn't enough. It was clear this game was going to be decided by fine margins and if you leave the kind of space they did for Kimmich's goal, teams at this level will punish you. Mikel Arteta's young squad will learn a lot from this and will be better for the experience.
Reaction
Thomas Tuchel, Bayern coach: "It was a chess game in the first half, nobody wanted to make the first mistake. Everyone played a bit safe. We encouraged the team at half-time to show a bit more personality, a bit more courage. We were more fluid and played a fantastic second half."
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal coach: "We tried against a team which has a lot of experience. Throughout the tie, the margins were very small. There were moments when we were better, but we gave them two goals and that's a big advantage to give away."
Harry Kane, Bayern forward: "Unbelievable win. It's been a tough season for us and we've had to fight and grind at times. Today was just that – we knew it was going to be a tough game but also that at home we could make the difference with our fans there."
Joshua Kimmich, Bayern defender: "It's an amazing feeling to score such an important goal in front of our fans on a night like tonight. These are the moments you work for and we've worked hard for it."
Owen Hargreaves, TNT Sports
"This was a huge opportunity for Arsenal, but ultimately experience played a big part."
Key stats
- Bayern are through to the semi-finals for the first time since winning the Champions League in 2020. It will be their 13th last-four appearance in all, second only to Real Madrid.
- Five of Kimmich's last seven Champions League goals have been scored in the knockout stages.
- Bayern join Dortmund in the last four, only the third time there have been two German clubs in the Champions League semis after 2012/13 and 2019/20.
- Bayern have won 12 and drawn three of their last 15 Champions League home matches.
- Manuel Neuer kept his 58th Champions League clean sheet, breaking Iker Casillas' long-standing record.
Fantasy star performers
Joshua Kimmich: 11 points
Raphaël Guerreiro: 9 points
Eric Dier: 7 points
Manuel Neuer: 7 points
Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer; Kimmich, Dier, De Ligt, Mazraoui (Kim 76); Laimer, Goretzka; Sané (Upamecano 89), Musiala, Guerreiro; Kane
Arsenal: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Tomiyasu (Nketiah 86); Ødegaard, Jorginho (Jesus 68), Rice; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli (Trossard 67)
What's next?
Bayern will face Real Madrid in the semi-finals. The first leg will be in Munich on 30 April, with the second leg in Spain on 8 May. The winners of the tie will meet Dortmund or Paris Saint-Germain in the final at Wembley on 1 June.