Bayern Munich 1-1 Manchester City: Erling Haaland scores as Pep Guardiola’s side book date with Real Madrid

Manchester City will face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals for the second year running after securing a 4-1 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich. Erling Haaland’s goal at the Allianz Arena helped Pep Guardiola’s side to a 1-1 draw on the night as they continued their quest for a first European crown.

The emphasis was on the hosts to take the game to their opponents, and they were the better team in the opening exchanges as Leroy Sane twice came close to breaking the deadlock.

At the other end, Dayot Upamecano received a huge reprieve when he was originally shown a red card for a professional foul on Haaland, who was then belatedly flagged offside, meaning the sending off was rescinded.

The pair were involved in the action again before the break, as the Norwegian blazed a penalty over the bar after the Bayern defender had been harshly penalised for handball.

Haaland would get his goal eventually though, rounding off a rapid counter-attack by firing into the top corner shortly before the hour mark to effectively put the tie to bed.

Bayern did pull one back when Joshua Kimmich levelled from the spot after another ludicrous handball, this time following a long VAR check against Manuel Akanji, but it was no more than a consolation, as City comfortably progressed.

TALKING POINT – City set up another date with destiny

It’s no secret that the Champions League is the holy grail for Manchester City, who have won every domestic honour going , some of them on multiple occasions, since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016.

The European Cup has so far eluded them, though, including losing the 2021 final to Chelsea, before being knocked out in the semis by Real Madrid last year.

They will get a chance to avenge that defeat to the defending champions though, with this result setting up another last four clash with Carlo Ancelotti’s side, and given they are now unbeaten in 15 outings, you wouldn’t bet against them overturning last year’s 6-5 aggregate defeat.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich). It may seem odd to give the award to a player on the team who got knocked out, but Kingsley Coman stood out like a sore thumb for Bayern.

The French international was a constant attacking threat, with his menacing pace causing Manchester City’s defence no end of problems.

The only issue was that he was a lone ranger in troubling the opposition, with Ederson denying him on a couple of occasions, while his teammates were simply unable to muster a similar level of performance.

PLAYER RATINGS

BAYERN MUNICH: Sommer 6; Pavard 6, Upamecano 4, de Ligt 6, Cancelo 5; Kimmich 6, Goretzka 6; Sane 5, Musiala 6, Coman 8; Choupo-Moting 6. Subs: Davies 6, Mane 6, Muller 6, Tel 6, Stanisic n/a

MANCHESTER CITY: Ederson 8; Akanji 6, Stones 7, Dias 6, Ake 7; Rodri 6, Gundogan 7; Silva 6, De Bruyne 6, Grealish 7, Haaland 7. Subs: Laporte 6, Alvarez n/a, Walker n/a

KEY MOMENTS

19’ UPAMECANO GETS A REPRIEVE! Erling Haaland breaks through the middle and is racing through on goal. He’s brought down by Dayot Upamecano, and the referee immediately blows for a free-kick and issues a red card, only for the offside flag to belatedly go up

37’ HAALAND MISSES FROM THE PENALTY SPOT! Manchester City are gifted the chance to break the deadlock after a ridiculous handball is given against Upamecano, but Haaland blazes the penalty over the bar!

57’ GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY (Erling Haaland). There’s the opener! City counter attack with unbelievable pace as Stones’ long ball is nodded down by Haaland to De Broyne, who feeds it back to the Norwegian and he converts into the top corner. Game. Over.

76’ GOAL RULED OUT. Bayern think they’ve levelled, but Tel’s strike is ruled out for offside against Coman earlier on in the move

83’ GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-1 MANCHESTER CITY (Joshua Kimmich). Well, if the last handball was harsh, this one is just ridiculous. Mane tries to cross the ball into the box, and it hits Akanji, who is less than a yard away from him. After a long VAR check, a spot kick is given, which is duly dispatched by Kimmich.

86’ THOMAS TUCHEL SENT OFF. He got a yellow card in the first half for his protests against the referee, and he’s now picked up another, this time for his fury at that Laporte foul

KEY STATS

• This was Pep Guiardiola’s 400th game as Manchester City boss – he’s registered 290 wins, 52 draws and 57 defeats
• Bayern Munich have been knocked out in the Champions League quarter-finals for the third year running