FC Bayern went into the duel against FC Villarreal as the clear favorite. The Spanish seventh in the table threw Bayern out of the Champions League anyway – and left the players at a loss.
Until just before the end, it seemed only a matter of time before Bayern would score the decisive goal. With this second goal, the German record champions would have entered the semi-finals of the Champions League. A goal came in the 88th minute, but on the other side. Villarreal’s Samu Chukwueze scored the 1-1 equalizer to propel his team through to the next round.
Bayern, who previously played dominantly, had more possession and more chances, were out. The Munich players could hardly believe it. Thomas Müller summarized his thoughts on the microphone at Prime Video: “It’s extremely bitter that we conceded a goal here despite the performance. We played a committed, good game. We pushed, pushed, with the fans behind us right from the start , pressed.”
Gameplay does not reflect the result
“We might have to score one more in front of the goal. But a goal was definitely not in the air. We defended well, had a good remaining defense and were very active. Then they have an action shortly before the end,” said the Munich player continue.
Referring to the two-legged tie, he said: “If we only take today’s game, then we clearly deserve to go through here. If you include the game in Villarreal then we can be happy to have only lost 0-1. But the fact that the game ended 1-1 today wasn’t really the way the game went. To accept the defeat today… I don’t know what to say.”
“I don’t know what’s coming my way”
Coach Julian Nagelsmann saw the first leg as the key, “we lost the duel there,” said the 34-year-old. We did very well today, it was one of the best games of the last few months.”
Julian Nagelsmann after the final whistle. (Source: Passion2Press/imago images)
When asked about the consequences of leaving, the 34-year-old responded as follows: “I don’t know what’s in store for me, Bundesliga, Bielefeld,” said Nagelsmann. “If you lose and are eliminated, that’s how it is. But I’m not afraid, there are worse things.” It was not the “most important game” of his career so far. “It was one of the most important.”
Instead of the possible semi-final duel with Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool FC, only the Bundesliga is on the agenda for Nagelsmann and Bayern, because the “Reds” are already out of the DFB Cup.