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Thursday, 17 March 2016

Bayern Stumble Past Juventus

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Bayern Munich battled back from two goals down then scored twice in extra time to beat Juventus 4-2 and reach the Champions League last eight with a 6-4 aggregate victory.

Thiago Alcântara drilled in after 108 minutes and Kingsley Coman curled in their fourth goal two minutes later as Bayern, who needed a 90th-minute equaliser from Thomas Müller to force extra time, kept up their treble hopes.

In a reverse of the first leg when Juve came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2, Bayern scored twice in the second half. It was a bitter defeat for last season’s runners-up, Juve, who ran out of steam in extra time to leave domestic titles as their only potential silverware this season.

Robert Lewandowski headed in at the far post to reignite the home side’s hopes and trigger a dramatic finale in which Müller scored in almost identical fashion. Thiago came off the bench to put Bayern in front after a delightful interchange with Müller and his fellow substitute Coman, who had crossed for Müller’s equaliser at the end of normal time, completed a memorable comeback win. Coman is on loan from Juventus but there is no clause preventing him from playing against them.

The hosts had a golden chance after two minutes when Douglas Costa sent the former Juve player Arturo Vidal through but the Chilean’s poor first touch allowed Gianluigi Buffon to save. It was the Bianconeri who drew first blood with Paul Pogba capitalising on a David Alaba mistake to beat Manuel Neuer.

Bayern, who had not let in a first-half goal in their previous seven games in the competition, were rattled and Neuer almost gifted another goal after sending the ball straight to Álvaro Morata, whose looping effort was ruled offside. Morata, however, made a 40-metre run past four Bayern players to send Juan Cuadrado through for their second goal.

Bayern showed their first signs of life just before the break when Müller’s effort was saved by Buffon and the ball rolled narrowly wide from a Robert Lewandowski deflection. But Juve, who have let in only one goal in 12 Serie A matches this year, remained solid at the back and kept taking stabs at the shaky Bayern defence, Morata coming close again on the hour.

The Poland striker Lewandowski headed in at the far post for his eighth goal of the campaign in the 73rd minute, before Müller followed suit to set up the extra time.

The win means Pep Guardiola maintained his hopes of a Champions League title in his last season in Munich.


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