Manchester City secured a place in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League with a 4-1 aggregate victory over German champions Bayern Munich. Despite drawing 1-1 on the night, the English club added to their 3-0 win in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium eight days earlier.
Bayern Munich aimed to become only the fifth team to overturn a three-goal deficit in a Champions League knockout tie, but started on the front foot, with winger Kingsley Coman looking like the biggest threat. However, City’s defence held strong, and it was Yann Sommer who was the first goalkeeper called into action.
Bayern had their first big chance in the 16th minute when they turned over the ball quickly to send Leroy Sane through on goal, but he clipped his shot past Ederson and wide of the target. A minute later, Erling Haaland raced clear at the other end and was caught by Dayot Upamecano, but the decision was overturned after VAR showed that the City striker was offside.
Haaland had the chance to extend City’s advantage to four goals in the 36th minute when Ilkay Gundogan’s goal-bound strike struck Upamecano on the arm, and the referee awarded a penalty. However, the Norwegian’s effort went over the bar – his first miss in eight penalties for City.
Chasing a goal to give Bayern hope, they left space for City to attack, and the English club almost grabbed the opener when a quick break saw Jack Grealish release Haaland, but his shot was saved by Sommer. However, in the 57th minute, Haaland was released by Kevin De Bruyne’s pass, jinked past Upamecano, and smashed the ball high into the top corner.
Despite the German club’s best efforts, City saw out the game and celebrated with their travelling fans at the Allianz Arena at full-time. They will now face Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Champions League for the third successive year, with the first leg in Spain on Tuesday 9 May and the return leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 17 May.
In the other half of the draw, AC Milan will face city rivals Inter Milan for a place in the final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, on 10 June.
