SUMMARY
- Defending UCL champions Manchester City lost to Real Madrid in a thrilling quarter-final clash.
- Another Premier League giant, Arsenal, also crashed out of the competition after losing to Bayern Munich.
The four 2023-24 UEFA Champions League semifinalists have been set and the soccer fans are in for a treat. A day before, PSG broke FC Barcelona’s hearts while Borussia Dortmund marked an incredible comeback to advance as the first two semifinalists. While Kylian Mbappe’s PSG takes on the Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich will face the 14-time Champions League winner, Real Madrid.
🚨 Champions League semi finals.
🇩🇪 FC Bayern 🆚 Real Madrid 🇪🇸
🇩🇪 Borussia Dortmund 🆚 PSG 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/MKUIC2LAcf
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 17, 2024
It has been a spectacular season of vintage Champions League soccer. The UCL quarterfinals this season have witnessed incredible drama, with both PSG and Borussia Dortmund coming back to win the tie after losing the first leg. The second day of the UCL quarterfinals turned out to be even more exciting, with Real Madrid defeating Manchester City on penalties to progress to the semifinals where they will face Bayern Munich.
Real Madrid knock out defending UCL champions Manchester City
In England, it was a clash of the titans as Europe’s finest, Manchester City and Real Madrid took on each other. The first leg in Madrid ended in a nailbiting 3-3 draw with all to play for in the second leg. Pep Guardiola’s City started the game in a dominating manner but Real Madrid was the first to break the deadlock.
Some intricate play between Jude Bellingham and Dani Carval helped Vinicius Jr. set up his compatriot Rodrygo perfectly to give Real Madrid the lead. Despite City’s relentless attack, with Erling Haaland even hitting the crossbar, the English side failed to equalize. As the seconds went by on the clock with increasing anticipation, it took Guardiola‘s men until 76 minutes when Kevin De Bruyne scored the leveler.
For the second time in three seasons, Manchester City and Real Madrid are heading to extra time to decide who advances in the Champions League. pic.twitter.com/X4eh2wp08g
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) April 17, 2024
The Belgian international had an incredible chance to give City the advantage but uncharacteristically blazed the ball over the crossbar. After 90 minutes of end-to-end action, the game stretched into extra time with both sides level at 4-4. In the extra time, both the teams looked more even than before as the players continued to put their everything on the pitch.
The tiring legs of the players had a visible effect on the game as the game went to penalty shootouts. As often as we have seen a hero being born out of a penalty shootout, tonight, it was Andriy Lunin. It was Real Madrid’s second-choice goalkeeper who rose to the occasion and made two brilliant saves in the shootout to lead his team to the UCL semifinals and end City’s dreams of a double-treble.
Bayern Munich breaks Arsenal’s heart to qualify for the UCL semifinals
Meanwhile, in Germany, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal took on Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich. The first leg at the Emirates Stadium in a closely contested 2-2 draw with some controversial decisions from the referees. Both managers absolutely lambasted the match official for denying their teams a penalty kick. The second leg started in the same fashion as the previous one with both sides coming close to getting the first goal.
Arsenal got two great chances early in with Gabriel Martinelli and skipper Martin Odegaard coming close. On the other hand, Bayern Munich were rather wasteful. In the 63rd minute, Joshua Kimmich finally managed to score and gave Bayern the lead. Odegaard did come strikingly close to bringing Arsenal back in the game in the 87th minute but all in vain.
Despite a lackluster domestic performance, Tuchel’s Bayern Munich proved once again their mettle as they progressed to the UCL semifinals. Questions, however, will arise over Mikel Arteta‘s future. With the Premier League already slipping from Arsenal’s sights, Arteta’s hopes of a Champions League title also ended tonight.