The Manchester City of Pep Guardiola and Erling Haaland will be the rival of Real Madrid in the semifinals of the Champions League for the second consecutive edition.
Haaland scored the goal that opened the scoring and reached for City to draw 1-1 at Bayern Munich on Wednesday in the second leg of their quarterfinal match.
The Norwegian attacker missed a first-half penalty but redeemed himself by finishing off a counterattack in the 57th minute that ended the tie, just after Bayern had let a magnificent chance slip away at the other end. The English team advanced with a 4-1 victory on the global scoreboard.
Bayern’s lack of confidence after losing 3-0 in the first leg in Manchester was palpable as they missed numerous scoring opportunities.
Joshua Kimmich scored the consolation goal for the Bavarians by converting a penalty in the 83rd minute after City defender Manuel Akanji was booked after VAR intervention for a handball.
His Bayern counterpart Dayot Upamecano was also booked for a handball when Ikay Gundogan’s cross grazed his lower arm in the 35th, but Haaland shot over the crossbar.
Kevin De Bruyne set up Haaland for the goal in the second half, in Upamecano slipping as he tried to cross.
City did not shine in Guardiola’s return to the stadium of the club he led to three consecutive Bundesliga titles between 2014-16, but the truth is that the visitors did not need to work hard after the margin harvested in the first leg and the bad Bayern aim.
It was Bayern’s third straight exit in the quarterfinals since they were crowned champions of the tournament in 2020. It is also the second tournament they have been dismissed in as many weeks, losing to Freiburg in the German Cup semifinals.
Chief executive Oliver Kahn and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic sacked Julian Nagalsmann as manager last month as they felt the club’s goals this season were in jeopardy. Tuchel took the reins and has barely managed two wins in six games in all competitions. Bayern continues to lead the Bundesliga, two points ahead of Borussia Dortmund and with six dates to play.
Bayern fans unfurled a huge banner near the end of Wednesday’s game, criticizing Salihamidzic and Kahn: “The goals may not be achieved, but the club’s values are respected!”
Tuchel was sent off near the end after racking up a second booking for protesting. His assistant Zsolt Löw was sent off with a direct red card.
The Premier League champions are bidding to lift the European Cup for the first time. It would be Guardiola’s first since he established himself as Barcelona coach in 2011.
City will be the visitor to defending champions Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final in May.
