Manchester City progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Wednesday as they eliminated Bayern Munich.
The Blues had led 3-0 from the first leg last week and earned a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena, with Erling Haaand netting in the second-half for the visitors.
It was a first half full of action but lacking a goal. Bayern created several dangerous openings, with Leroy Sane chipping wide on 17 minutes while the ex-City man saw a powerful free-kick and a shot from distance sail off target.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also flicked a header wide, Joshua Kimmich curled over and the electric Kingsley Coman forced Ederson into a smart stop. In the latter stages of the half, Choupo-Moting and Jamal Musiala had attempts blocked, but it was far from all one-way action.
The hosts were temporarily reduced to 10 men when Dayot Upamecano tripped Haaland as he bore down on goal, but was saved by a VAR check that showed the City striker was offside in the build-up. But the Frenchman was less fortunate on 35 minutes when he was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box from an Ilkay Gundogan shot, with a spot-kick awarded by the referee.
The prolific Haaland stood up but incredibly skied the penalty over the bar to ensure the scoreline remained tied at the break.
Pep Guardiola’s side enjoyed more of a foothold in the second half with Haaland’s shot on 55 minutes saved by Yann Sommer, not long before the game-defining moment in the second leg. It took just 16 seconds from Coman’s shot being parried by Ederson, to Haaland handing City the lead in Munich.
Kevin De Bruyne slipped the ball into the Norwegian, who benefitted from Upamacano’s slip, before he powerfully placed his shot into the roof of the net. Bayern did respond well from that disappointment with Kimmich and Choupo-Moting seeing shots saved, before Mathys Tel had a goal ruled out after Coman was flagged offside seconds before the Bayern youngster netted.
In the final throes the German champions netted via Kimmich’s penalty, which was given for a very harsh handball decision on Manuel Akanji. Thomas Tuchel was also sent off in the 86th minute on a fiery night in Bavaria, while Sadio Mane went close with the final chance of note in the match.
Here’s how we rated the City players…
1. Ederson- 7
Made some important saves during the game, with the best coming to deny Coman efforts.
2. Manuel Akanji- 7
Dropped inside and played a big role in City’s solid defensive showing.
3. John Stones- 6
Found it tough against Bayern’s rapid attackers and Stones had to drop into defence more often than he likes. But, like a few City players, the Yorkshireman improved after the break.
4. Ruben Dias- 8
Defended well and dealt effectively with Bayern’s tricky forwards.