Villarreal showed tonight that their ceiling in this Champions League is not the quarterfinals. Or at least it is in a position to fight to reach the semifinals for the second time in its history after defeating (1-0) in a La Cerámica stadium given over to an entire Bayern Munich that had gone 22 straight games away from home without losing in Europe.
The last defeat of the Bavarian giant in the Champions League went back to September 2017, when PSG, led by Unai Emery, defeated him 3-0. Today the Gipuzkoan again stopped a rival who was facing the tie as a favorite and now he will have to come back in Munich.
Emery opted for a more physical and experienced midfield with the entry of Francis Coquelin and Yeremy Pino and the coach’s goal of shutting down Bayern’s passing lanes was aided by Villarreal’s swift goal.
It was in the 8th minute when a great collective action at the first touch led to the 1-0. Gerard Moreno, from the right wing, put a deep ball to Giovani Lo Celso, whose cross from the by-line was finished off in the first instance by Dani Parejo and Arnaut Danjuma appeared to deflect into the net against the misplaced Manuel Neuer.
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Lewandowski hardly appeared but Serge Gnabry, with a cross shot that Thomas Müller missed by millimeters, Alphonso Davies, who in his reappearance after three months out tested a safe Gerónimo Rulli, and Kingsley Coman, whom a providential Pau Torres avoided scoring, they put their hearts in a fist to the ‘grogueta’ fans.
Villarreal completed a great game, adapting at all times to the circumstances to stand up to a Bayern team, and for now they are making their fans dream of completing one of the greatest feats in their history in Munich.
Villlarreal: Rulli, Foyth (Aurier, m.81), Albiol, Pau Torres, Estupiñán, Coquelin (Pedraza, m.59), Capoue, Parejo, Lo Celso; Danjuma (Chukwueze, d.81) and Gerard Moreno
Bayern Múnich: Neuer, Pavard (Süle, m.72), Upamecano, Lucas Hernández, Davies; Kimmich, Musiala; Coman, Müller (Goretzka, m.62) (Marc Roca, m.93), Gnabry (Leroy Sané, m.62); Lewandowski.
Goal: 1-0, m.8: Danjuma
Referee: Anthony Taylor (England). He admonished Estupiñán for Villarreal (m.75)
Incidents: First leg of the Champions League quarterfinals played at La Cerámica before 22,500 spectators, 3,500 of them fans of the German team.
see game file
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