Bayern Munich clinched a spot in the Champions League semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday, courtesy of Joshua Kimmich’s decisive header in the 63rd minute. This victory secured a 3-2 aggregate win for Bayern, marking their return to the semi-finals for the first time since their title triumph in 2020.
The German giants will now set their sights on a showdown with Real Madrid in the next stage of the competition.
For Arsenal, the defeat adds to a disappointing week, having surrendered their top spot in the Premier League table following their first league loss of the year.
Reflecting on the hard-fought victory, Bayern striker Harry Kane acknowledged the challenge posed by Arsenal, stating, “We can enjoy this one. The first half was cagey and then we upped the tempo. These games are tough and we had to find our way through them. It’s going to be a tough semi-final whoever we play.”
In contrast, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his team’s disappointment but remained optimistic about their progress. “We wanted it so badly,” Arteta remarked. “However, you can see with many other clubs that sometimes it takes six or seven years to get to that stage. We were very close; that is the reality.”
Unlike their previous encounter, which saw a flurry of goals, Wednesday’s match was characterized by a cautious approach from both sides, resulting in few clear scoring opportunities in the opening half.
With the prospect of extra time looming, Kimmich seized the moment, breaking through the Arsenal defense to connect with a perfectly placed chip from Raphael Guerreiro and secure the vital goal.
Guerreiro’s adaptability, shifted from his usual wing-back role to a more advanced position due to Bayern’s injury concerns, proved instrumental as he provided a creative spark in the attacking third.
By advancing to the semi-finals, Bayern Munich, six-time winners of the Champions League, join fellow Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund in the last four, with Dortmund set to face Paris Saint-Germain in their respective tie.
