Bayern overcome Gunners to progress to semis

FC Bayern beat Arsenal 1-0 on Wednesday night to advance to the Champions League semi-finals. After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Joshua Kimmich made the difference when he netted for Bayern after the hour mark in a tight match.

The Bavarians lined up with Manuel Neuer in goal and Kimmich, Matthijs de Ligt, Eric Dier and Noussair Mazraoui in defence. Leon Goretzka and Konrad Laimer anchored a midfield featuring Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala and Raphaël Guerreiro, with Harry Kane up front. Minjae Kim and Dayot Upamecano took over from Mazraoui and Sané in the second half.

Mazraoui comes close

The first half was a balanced affair, with Bayern getting off to the better start. Kane fired wide before Gabriel Martinelli miscued at the other end. A Sané cutback was blocked and Mazraoui's deflected effort from a tight angle only just went wide, Musiala seeing a shot saved.

The pendulum then swung the other way, Neuer denying Martin Ødegaard before he beat the charging Kai Havertz to the ball and saved from Martinelli. Clear-cut chances remained at a premium as the teams went into half-time goalless and still level on aggregate.

Kimmich seals it

Bayern hit the ground running and a Goretzka header crashed off the woodwork, as did Guerreiro's deflected rebound. Goretzka saw another effort deflected behind, but Bayern took the lead when Guerreiro's cross found Kimmich, who powered a diving header past keeper David Raya to put Bayern ahead in the tie.

Sané mishit a shot and saw another effort blocked. A Musiala effort was saved and Neuer denied Ødegaard at the other end as Bayern secured progress to the last four.

The Bavarians will be back in action on Saturday when they travel to face Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. They will take on Real Madrid in the semi-finals on 30 April and 8 May.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen