Munich (AP) – The Bayern stars crept into the cabin with a blank stare after the shock in the Champions League. With a late goal, FC Villarreal abruptly stopped the German soccer record champions at 1: 1 (0: 0) and inflicted a painful knockout on the star ensemble.
Kingsley Coman sank to the grass in frustration, Robert Lewandowski put his hands on his knees and coach Julian Nagelsmann tried in vain to offer consolation. “It’s extremely bitter that we conceded a goal despite this performance. From the start we pushed, pushed, pushed with the fans behind us,” said Thomas Müller on Amazon Prime Video. “A goal was definitely not in the air.”
Nothing will come of the semi-final against Liverpool
A week after the 0: 1 in Spain, world footballer Lewandowski (52nd minute) put the vastly superior Munich team on course for victory on Tuesday evening in front of 70,000 spectators, until substitute Samu Chukwueze (88th) for the previously largely harmless Europa League winner still struck. “The course of the game didn’t allow for the game to end 1-1,” said Müller. “But we’re where we are in football now, it’s very difficult today.”
Nothing will come of the long-awaited dream semi-final against Jürgen Klopp’s FC Liverpool, who is about to advance to the semi-finals. After the crashing out of the DFB Cup in October due to the 0:5 at Borussia Mönchengladbach and now the premature end of all top class hopes, the almost certain win of the German championship now has the highest priority.
Shortly before the kick-off, Bayern board member Oliver Kahn had cleared the latest rumor about Lewandowski. The Pole, in whose home country an allegedly fixed move to FC Barcelona was reported on Monday, will “definitely” play in Munich next season. Kahn sees a competition for “the biggest nonsense story” about the world footballer.
Like the entire Bayern team, he played poorly in the first leg. On the other hand, the Munich offensive controlled the initial phase of the second leg, alongside Lewandowski, Müller, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sané and Coman were supposed to provide danger and goals. Once again, however, Villarreal was the uncomfortable, stubborn opponent, who also relied on time wasting from the start with even short interruptions.
Nagelsmann: “If you don’t dare, you don’t win”
Sané’s sharp cross was the first goal approach of the clearly superior German record champions (11th). Bayern put the Spanish Europa League winners under pressure early in the half. Coman on the left and Sané on the right were able to put themselves in the limelight several times. In the penalty area, however, the balls did not initially reach Lewandowski and Müller.
“If you don’t dare, you don’t win,” said Nagelsmann, who had to do without the sick national player Niklas Süle in defense. Bayern got stuck in the opposing penalty area. There was repeated applause from the stands. Musiala tested Villarreal goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli with a header after a cross from Leon Goretzka (29) – but it was the only major chance of the first half.
Villarreal retreated far. Before the only shot in the direction of Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Arnaut Danjuma was offside (41′). In defense, however, the seventh-placed team in the Spanish league continued to hold up well, with the two central defenders Pau Torres and Raúl Albiol initially having Bayern under control.
Musiala tested Rulli again just seconds after the restart (46′). Bayern kept pushing for the goal – and were rewarded by Lewandowski after a strong effort from Coman. The world footballer was served on the edge of the penalty area and skilfully completed the right foot in the lower right corner.
The game was open again and Bayern created more chances to score. Too often, however, the precision was lacking – as with Müller’s header in the 71st minute, which went wide of the goal. That should take revenge – Bayern did not recover from the late goal.