Football fans watching from the world over were treated to a remarkable spectacle on Wednesday as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich went toe-to-toe with a star-packed Real Madrid side in the UEFA Champions League quarter-final and emerged as 4-3 winners on the night, progressing 6-4 on aggregate.
The Sun summed up the mood of a lot of neutrals who had tuned in, writing: “If only our best Premier League games could be half as good as this. While most Prem clashes have become stodgy snorefests obsessed with set-pieces, this breathless belter was the Beautiful Game in its truest form.”
The BBC noted: “Seven goals, two red cards and the competition’s 15-time winners exiting in anger – once again the knockout stages of European club football’s elite contest has delivered drama in spades.”
Vincent Kompany had been clear of the approach ahead of the second leg, dismissing suggestions Bayern could have played more cautiously after going 2-0 up in the first leg in Madrid by saying the players “had earned the right to be themselves”.
His charges embraced those words in breathtaking fashion, having the confidence to come from behind three times to triumph.
At the centre of their remarkable resilience was Jamal Musiala, who looked to have finally put his injury woes behind him in a superb showing in the 5-0 win at St. Pauli last weekend, and was at his unplayable best after coming on in the 61st minute. His delightful backheeled assist to Luis Díaz for Bayern’s crucial third goal was a huge moment.
Watch: Musiala scores and assists in win at St. Pauli
With Musiala back at his best, it would take quite some side to stop Bayern marching to the Champions League crown. Paris Saint-Germain await in the semi-finals, with Joshua Kimmich seeing that as a clash between “the best teams of the moment”.
It remains to be seen who prevails over the two legs and seals a spot in the final in Budapest, but with Kompany allowing his Bayern stars free attacking rein, more thrills, twists and turns can be confidently predicted!
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