Bayern Munich 4-2 Juventus (6-4 agg AET): Stunning comeback sends Pep's men through By Andrew Dickson
Last Updated: 16/03/16 10:41pm
Bayern Munich came back from the brink of a shock Champions League exit to beat Juventus 4-2 in extra-time, earning a 6-4 aggregate win to claim a place in the quarter-finals. Paul Pogba took advantage of some shambolic defending from the Germans to put Juve in front after just six minutes and Juan Cuadrado doubled the lead with less than half an hour gone. But just as Bayern looked like they were slipping out they came back to life and after Robert Lewandowski pulled one back, Thomas Muller levelled three minutes from the end. That forced an extra half hour and two goals in as many minutes from substitutes Thiago and Kingsley Coman completed a stirring comeback as the hosts claimed an unlikely win. The fact Bayern were able to come back at all was something of a surprise, particularly after their lacklustre showing before the break.
A mix-up between David Alaba and Manuel Neuer allowed Pogba to tap into an open goal after Stephan Lichtsteiner picked him out.
Although Juve would later go 2-0 up, they should have had that advantage sooner through on-loan Chelsea winger Cuadrado.
He lifted the ball over Neuer and into the net after a poor clearance from the goalkeeper but was ruled offside with TV replays showing that was not the case.
Cuadrado eventually got his goal as he provided a cool finish after a bursting run from one box to the other by Alvaro Morata which took him past four men, albeit far too easily.
The Colombian could even have made it three but his close-range finish from Pogba's cross was weak and a grateful Neuer touched it on to the post with a fine stop.
Morata missed two good openings in the second period and converting either would surely have killed Bayern off.
Juve could not get a clincher though and Lewandowski's header from a sumptuous Douglas Costa cross with 16 minutes remaining gave the hosts hope.
An even better delivery from Coman after Arturo Vidal sent him scampering down the right was nodded in by Muller to force extra-time and by then the Germans were in the ascendency.
With Juventus visibly tiring, they did just enough to hold their opponents off in the first half of additional football.
Thiago's smart one-two gave him the chance he needed, however, to put Pep Guardiola's men in front for the first time since the first leg in Turin.
Coman delivered a sickening sucker punch just a couple of minutes later as he passed into the net and with that it was clear last season's losing finalists had finally been beaten.
Now Bayern can look forward to Friday's quarter-final draw and for Guardiola that means the possibility of coming up against the Manchester City he will take charge of in the summer.
They are one of seven teams Munich could face and if this tie had drama, there's every chance that fixture might just eclipse it if it happens.
http://www.skysports.com/football/bay-munich-vs-juventus/352783 [ 此帖被羅力亞在2016-03-17 06:47重新編輯 ]
