Bayern 1 Villarreal 1 (agg 1-2): Chukwueze’s late strike stuns German giants and sends Unai Emery’s men into semis
UNAI EMERY produced yet another European masterclass with Villarreal to stun Bayern Munich on their own patch.
The six-time European champs were struggling to break down the resilient visitors before Robert Lewandowski levelled the tie in the 52nd minute.
Bayern then looked the favourites to grab a winner before substitute Samuel Chukwueze scored on the counter in the 88th minute.
Villarreal – last year’s Europa League winners and currently seventh in La Liga – are through to their first Champions League semi-final since 2006 against either Liverpool or Benfica.
And Emery – who oversaw a stunning last 16 4-1 victory over Juventus last time out – will manage a side in the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the first time.
Bayern – who have reached the semis eight times over the past decade – have suffered arguably one of the most embarrassing defeats in their illustrious history.
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Unsurprisingly, Emery kept the same team that shocked the German giants a week before, including goal scorer Arnaut Danjuma.
But after having 22 shots in the first leg with the first on target coming on the hour mark, Nagelsmann switched to a back three this time.
Teen sensation Jamal Musiala began up top with Lewandowski and Thomas Muller while Serge Gnabry and Alphonso Davies dropped to the bench.
The change by Nagelsmann was in anticipation of a low, defensive block by the Yellow Submarine. As a German newspaper headline put it: “The submarine becomes the bus”.
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Villarreal were indeed tough to break down in the first half, but by no means did they park the bus as Emery’s men countered using a 4-2-2-2 system.
Bayern’s frustrations were visible early on as their only shot of the half came in the 29th minute through Musiala’s header straight at Geronimo Rulli.
Lewandowski was hardly in the game and almost let his temper get the better of him after two altercations with Raul Albiol that earned him a yellow card.
Emery’s game plan was working, and they almost ended the half grabbing another goal as Danjuma fluffed his lines 1v1 with Manuel Neuer before being called back for offside.
And for all their good work, the visitors gifted Bayern their goal seven minutes into the second half, and it was this competition’s top scorer who gobbled up the chance.
Moments earlier, Dayot Upamecano had skied a great chance from a Leroy Sane pull-back.
But then Dani Parejo stuttered on the ball outside his box allowing Lewandowski to find an angle and fire a low shot in off Rulli’s left-hand post.
His 13th goal in 10 games in Europe this season, and his 86th in 106 Champions League outings.
That goal really deflated Emery’s workhorses, and the rest of the half turned into defence against attack as Bayern pushed to complete the comeback.
Bayern should have done so in the 70th minute as Muller somehow skewed a free header wide from a superb Sane cross.
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In preparation for extra-time, Nagelsmann brought on Gnabry and Davies, but then Villarreal embarked on a rare sprint upfield.
Gerard Moreno found space and squared it to an on-rushing Chukwueze who smashed it first time into Neuer’s top corner.