Arsenal garde patience
The Gunners monopolize the ball against the Bavarians who defend aggressively. The Londoners are looking for the fault from left to right.
Stat’
According to Opta before the match, Arsenal are favorites to qualify (57%). The Gunners also have the 4th highest probability of winning the 2023-24 Champions League (12.2%).
Zinchenko and fashion quaterback
The Ukrainian is responsible for directing Arsenal’s play from his entry, not hesitating to leave his left lane to occupy a central quarterback position. It is he who finds a nice cross towards Martinelli.
The Gunners go on the attack again
Good sequence of possession from Arsenal which fixes the Bavarian defense. On the right, Havertz can send a good cross towards Martinelli, but the attacker was offside at the start.
It’s back to the Emirates!
A change to note at the break: Zinchenko came on in place of Kiwior on the Arsenal side.
The stunning Bavarians in London
Launched at a thousand miles an hour, this quarter-final first leg keeps its promises at the Emirates. Author of a good first quarter of an hour, Arsenal thought they had done the hardest part by opening the scoring through Bukayo Saka (13th). But Bayern’s reaction did not take long and Serge Gnabry (18th) then Harry Kane from the penalty spot (32nd) allowed the Bavarians to return to the locker room with the advantage (1-2). Leroy Sané could even have broken on the counter (36th), the Gunners left boulevards behind.
Stat’
Arsenal are undefeated since their setback at Porto (0-1) on February 21 (8th first leg of the Champions League). Since then, the Gunners have gone seven matches without defeat (6 wins, 1 draw).
Arsenal caught by the patrol
New corner for the Gunners, who have a good reaction and put pressure. Saka crosses hard into a dangerous area, but the referee sees a stroller from a Londoner.
And what’s more, Kane makes the effort
The striker does not hesitate to go very low to help his defense, it is he who obtains a welcome foul for his team in Bayern’s half.
Sané misses the ball by 1-3!
The Gunners leave boulevards behind, the German winger does not require that much to be launched alone behind the defense. He seems to be able to go to the end but makes a hook on White, before being caught by the return of Odegaard!
Kane top scorer of this C1
Prince Harry’s 7th goal in this European campaign, the Englishman is the only top scorer in this edition of the Champions League.
KAAAANE, 1-2 FOR BAYERN MUNICH!
Prince Harry also remembers good memories of Arsenal and deceives Raya with terrible composure! The goalkeeper goes to the right but the Englishman plays calmly on the opposite side, it’s perfect!
Penalty for Bayern, what a rush from Sané!
Incredible breakthrough from the German, who accelerates to the right and pierces everything in the opposing area. It’s finally Saliba who dares to intervene but brings his opponent down, the referee doesn’t hesitate!
The fire in the Munich area!
First corner of the game for the Gunners, hit on the right by Saka. His center sets fire to the near post, where the Germans are unable to free themselves. Neuer is finally happy to take it!
Stat’
The Londoners have never eliminated the Munich residents in four confrontations, at the round of 16 stage (2005, 2013, 2024, 2017). The last three meetings resulted in a scathing 5-1 for the Germans. In 12 meetings, Bayern have won 7 times, compared to 3 for the Gunners (2 draws).
Kiwior’s head
The Gunners remain intentional like the Polish defender, who remained high in the area. Found on a cross, he places a header while retreating, captured by Neuer.
Bayern had no doubts
This goal from Gnabry, his second this season in the Champions League, allows the Germans to quickly get their heads back on track after this good first quarter of an hour for England.
GNABRYYYY, BAYERN ALREADY COLLECTS TO 1-1!
The Bavarian response will not take long! On a long ball, Gabriel throws back badly on Sané. This gives it magnificently to Goretzka who throws Gnabry into the area, the German scores by tackling despite Raya’s exit!
Another huge opportunity for Arsenal!
Bad header from Gnabry, who offers the ball to Odegaard. The Norwegian takes advantage and serves White who remains at the forefront, the full-back presents himself against Neuer but shoots at the goalkeeper!
Saka will take advantage of Davies’ yellow
Note that on the goal, Davies did not want to intervene on his opponent, he who had just received a first yellow. The Englishman should be able to take advantage of this situation, having just scored his 4th goal in the Champions League this season.
SAKAAAA, 1-0 FOR ARSENAL!
The Gunners find the opening thanks to their nugget! Found by White on the right, Saka enters the area and rolls in a precise shot from the left which deceives Neuer in the opposite net!
Early yellow card for Davies
Second foul already from the Canadian on Saka, who does not let him turn around and makes him fall from behind. Davies will play almost the entire match under threat.
First strike from Martinelli!
The Gunners scratch a high ball and attack quickly. In front of the surface, the Brazilian unleashes a powerful shot which leaves Neuer immobile but which goes too far to the right!
Musiala imprecise in front
Laimer sees his partner’s call on the edge of offside and pokes his ball to the opposite side. The young German misses his control and the opportunity to attack Raya’s area.
The Bavarians in a good way
Good start from Bayern who puts pressure on the Arsenal defense. The Gunners recover and put their foot on the ball in turn
Let’s go to the Emirates!
It was the Bavarians, in black, who launched this particularly enticing Champions League quarter-final first leg!
The competition anthem sounds!
The players appeared on the Emirates pitch, accompanied by the referee of the match, the Swede Glenn Nyberg. Kick-off is imminent!
Kane, Gnabry and Dier return to London
At Bayern since this season, Harry Kane will return to the pitch on which he played eight north London derbies and where he scored five goals in the colors of Tottenham between 2015 and 2022. His friend in the Bavarian attack Serge Gnabry will step on him also a terrain that he knew well, he who started as a professional at Arsenal before joining Bremen, then Bayern. On loan from Tottenham, Eric Dier also returns to London, who played with Spurs from 2014 to 2023.
The Gunners favorites of the moment, but Bayern are the black beast
After overcoming Porto in the round of 16, Mikel Arteta’s men returned to the quarters for the first time in 14 years. But facing them stands an opponent, defeater of Lazio Rome in the previous round, whom they have never eliminated in the Champions League. In recent history, the two teams have faced each other four times, each time with a Bavarian qualification at stake. The latest humiliation, the double victory of the Bavarians with a scathing score of five goals to one in 2017.
The lineup of Bayern Munich with Kane but without French
Dayot Upamecano, Kingsley Coman, Mathys Tel… Thomas Tuchel leaves all his French on the bench at kick-off. Eric Dier accompanies Matthijs De Ligt in defense, and it is the Gnabry-Musiala-Sané trio who will be responsible for feeding Harry Kane up front. Thomas Müller is a substitute.
Neuer – Davies, De Ligt, Dier, Kimmich – Laimer, Goretzka – Gnabry, Musiala, Sané, Kane
Arsenal’s eleven with Saka and Saliba, Gabriel Jesus on the bench
Mikel Arteta is no surprise, Jakub Kiwior is still preferred to Oleksandr Zinchenko at full-back. Gabriel Jesus is pushed to the bench by Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz starts up front. Frenchman William Saliba pairs up with Gabriel in central defense.
Raya – White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior – Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice – Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Bayern Munich: the Champions League to fight depression?
For Bayern Munich, the 2023-2024 season is a long journey through the desert, an ordeal. Beaten on Saturday in Heidenheim (3-2) a week after a debacle at home against Borussia Dortmund (2-0), Bayern, eliminated in the round of 16 of the German Cup by a 3rd division club, has 16 points behind Bayer Leverkusen. And in 28 days of the championship, he has suffered six defeats, unheard of since the 2011-12 season. But “the season is not yet lost” wants to believe coach Thomas Tuchel, who will leave at the end of the season. And the Champions League appears to be the last hope to shine this season. This is good, Bayern Munich is enjoying it, the Bavarian club having played in the quarter-finals twelve times over the last thirteen years.
Arsenal on the Premier League throne
Undefeated in the Premier League in 2024, Arsenal brilliantly won (3-0) last weekend against Brighton, overtaking the Liverpool Reds, held to a draw (2-2) at Old Trafford, in the standings. All while maintaining the tiny gap which already separated him from Manchester City, held by the Gunners (0-0) at home a week earlier. Winner without a shot against Roberto De Zerbio’s Seagulls, Arsenal perfectly prepared for the reception of a Rekormeister who is painful to see this season, and who has undoubtedly said goodbye to his goal of retaining a miraculous title.
Hello everyone !
Welcome to our live commentary dedicated to the quarter-final which will pit Arsenal, Premier League leader, against Bayern Munich, who have just suffered two defeats in quick succession in the Bundesliga, against Dortmund (0-2) then Heidenheim (2-3). ). The dynamic is clearly leaning in favor of the Gunners, but the European history nevertheless calls for caution, with Arsenal returning to this stage of the competition for the first time since 2010. The Gunners have not been invited there for almost fifteen years. An eternity. Since 2011, in the seven round of 16 contested by Arsenal, Bayern have met them three times and have always dominated them (2013, 2014, 2017).
