An efficient FC Bayern has a good chance of reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League when goal guarantor Harry Kane returns to London despite conceding a late goal. In the 2-2 (2-1) draw at Arsenal FC on Tuesday evening, the Munich team were on course for victory for a long time before joker Leandro Trossard (76th minute) let the superior Premier League leaders celebrate the equalizer. Ex-Arsenal professional Serge Gnabry (18th) and Tottenham icon Kane (32nd/foul penalty) had initially turned around the early deficit caused by Bukayo Saka (12th) in a highly entertaining premier class game.
The comebackers Manuel Neuer and Leroy Sané played key roles a week before the second leg on Wednesday in Munich. Captain Neuer saved the Munich team from the 0-2 shock shortly before the Gnabry goal against Ben White, winger Sané initiated the equalizer and took the penalty to give them the interim lead with a fantastic solo. After the exit from the cup and championship as well as the recent league embarrassment in Heidenheim, former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel can hope for the big titles when he leaves Munich.
Sports director Max Eberl had sent the Bayern professionals into the game with the demand that they “represent the club with honor.” This was less successful in the early stages – Alphonso Davies was shown a yellow card early on after a foul (8th) and was suspended for the second leg. Before conceding a goal, Bayern kept a safe distance from the fast Arsenal attackers. Tuchel stood in his coaching zone early in the game looking pretty angry.
“Everything will be required of us,” the coach had predicted, and he could thank his returning captain that things didn’t look any worse early on. The national goalkeeper not only safely parried White’s shot (16th), Neuer seemed to have brought more stability back into the Munich game.
This is how Bayern made it back to this quarter-final, especially after the Gunners’ defense helped a lot with Gnabry’s equaliser. The former Arsenal professional completed a counterattack after a bad pass from Gabriel to equalize; it was the first home goal for the Londoners in this premier class season. No big Bayern cheers could be heard from the stands; after their misconduct in the round of 16 against Lazio Rome, UEFA banned the Munich fans from the game in London.
But even without the support from the ranks, Bayern became stronger. Sané forced the penalty with his very strong solo from his own half, and Kane did what he always does against Arsenal. The England captain scored his 15th goal against the Gunners from the spot. Like his teammate Eric Dier, Kane was also mercilessly booed by the home fans because of his past with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
The “good energy” that Eberl claimed to have felt in the team before the game was very clearly visible in comparison to the Bundesliga defeats against Borussia Dortmund (0:2) and in Heidenheim (2:3). Arsenal remained dangerous with Saka, Havertz, who was always open to play, and Gabriel Martinelli – a 2-2 score at half-time would have been fair. But Bayern earned the lead with great effort.
The phase after the restart, however, clearly belonged to the Londoners. Arsenal increased the pressure as the game went on and Bayern were forced to defend intensively. Kane was shown a yellow card after a foul against Gabriel (55th). After just over an hour, Tuchel took Sané out of the game, replacing him with Kingsley Coman (66′). The national player didn’t seem to particularly like the substitution.
A little later, Gnabry had to be treated on the pitch and replaced by Raphaël Guerreiro (70th). Bayern were no longer able to get into the flow of the game; substitute Trossard’s equalizer came after a throw-in and after strong preparatory work by Gabriel Jesus. Coman hit the post late on (90′).
