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29 March 2024

Bayern rout Man Utd 3-1 to make Champions League semis

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Holders Bayern Munich recovered from the shock of conceding a stunning Patrice Evra goal to score three times in quick succession to beat Manchester United 3-1 and reach the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday.

An uninspiring quarter-final, second leg burst into life when Evra met a bouncing ball with a rasping half-volley to put United ahead in the 57th minute and 2-1 in front on aggregate.

Mario Mandzukic equalised also immediately for Bayern with a header and Thomas Mueller turned in an Arjen Robben cross in the 68th minute before Dutchman Robben added the third himself.

Wayne Rooney had missed a chance to put United 2-1 ahead on the night when he scuffed a shot from in front of goal and Bayern went though 4-2 on aggregate to stay on course for a treble and continue United's miserable season.

As in the first leg that ended 1-1, Bayern totally dominated possession in the first half although they lacked fluency and struggled to create any real openings against a well-drilled United side who were always in the game.

Robben was Bayern's chief threat, getting into several promising positions after cutting inside on to his left foot in familiar fashion but his efforts were either blocked by defenders or flashed wide.

United had one opening when Rooney got clear of the Bayern defence but he dithered and failed to notice Shinja Kagawa in an unmarked position as the chance went begging.

The visitors went ahead in remarkable fashion when Antonio Valencia burst down the right and, although his cross went behind United's forwards, the lurking Evra lashed home a net-bursting effort from the edged of the area.

United's joy was shortlived though as Bayern replied immediately when Mandzukic got in front of Evra to score with a diving header after a Frank Ribery cross from the left.

That opened the game up completely and Rooney should have put United back in front but completely scuffed his shot with only Manuel Neuer to beat from 12 metres after Danny Wellbeck rolled the ball invitingly to him.

United were not given a second chance.

Mueller put Bayern in front when he turned in Robben's cross from close range.

Robben then ensured there would be no nervous finale for Bayern when he collected a ball on the right and danced his way across the edge of the penalty area past two defenders before squeezing in a shot with took a deflection off of Nemanja Vidic.

With the Bundesliga title already in the bag, Bayern can now look forward to challenging for more silverware in the coming weeks, but for United this defeat all but ended their season.

Seventh in the Premier League, David Moyes's side will almost certainly be missing from next season's Champions League. 

FULL TIME

United 1 (Evra 57") Bayern 3 (Mandzukic 58" Muller 67" Robben 75")

Bayern Munich qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League after a 3-1 win over Manchester United in the second leg at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night.

Second half goals by Mandzukic, Muller and Robben confirmed the German club's domination over the Premier League side as they progressed 4-2 on aggregate after the first leg at Old Trafford ended 1-1.

United's goal in the 57th minute by Patrice Evra, a gem of a goal beating Neuer with a power-packed left footer, may have come at a cost as it seemed to have woken up a sleeping giant.

Bayern had already controlled the first half but never threatened to score. But once they fell back through that goal they looked a different side.

United were still celebrating their own goal when Bayern hit back and hit them hard. Mandzukic nodded home to bring them on par and nine minutes later Muller, as he has done on so many occasions for club and country, put them ahead.

Robben for all his hard work finally tasted success although Vidic had a 'foot' in it when he deflected Robben's feeble shot past De Gea.

Rooney did a lot of running, at times even coming to his team's defence but clearly looked off colour.

With their ouster from the Champions League and with no hope of retaining the Premier League title and having lost early in the FA and League Cups, Moyes' job is certainly on the line in only his first season.

93" Bayern still hold possession as referee blows the long whistle.

90" Moyes' job could be on the line now as he will be without a trophy in his first season at Old Trafford.

88" It looks all over for United as Bayern make another effort to score as Pizarro tries to get his name on the scorer's list but De Gea denies him.

86" Rooney looks off colour and out of sorts. He should have booted this ball in but his shot lacks the power that he is known for.

84" Muller is substituted but is given a huge round of applause as his goal could prove the match winner.

81" Muller gives it a go but is blocked by a host of defenders.   

80" Bayern are beginning to toy around now with United.

United 1 (Evra 57") Bayern 3 (Mandzukic 58" Muller 67" Robben 75")

75" GOAL! Robben's solo run has the United defence in tatters and although his shot was weak it deflected Vidic's boot and deceived De Gea.

73" Darren Fletcher is replaced by Hernandez.

70" YELLOW! Evra and Rafinha booked.

United 1 (Evra 57") Bayern 2 (Mandzukic 58" Muller 67")

67" GOAL! Muller taps home a Robben cross.

64" Bayern go on the defensive as defender Rafinha replaces striker Goetze.

The match has comes alive with both teams going toe to toe after an insipid first half.

61" Rooney is all at sea here after being in a good position to score.

United 1 (Evra 57") Bayern 1 (Mandzukic 58")

58" GOAL! United's joy is short-lived as Mandzukic equalises while the Red Devils were still celebrating. It was just 22 seconds from United's goal.

United 1 (Evra 57") Bayern 0

57" GOAL! Evra blasts a left footer past a hapless Neuer and United are front.

Ashley Young and Adnan Januzaj warm up on the sidelines.

54" Kagawa has a shot from 30 yards, ball swerves but Neuer collects.

52" Rooney falls on the defensive and does well to head away a Robben corner.

50" Goalkick by De Gea lands at Rooney's foot who is in the clear but is caught in two minds and loses the ball to Dante. 

48" Bayern win a corner but Robben's kick is well tackled by Vidic who clears to safety.

46" United change tactics and soon earn two corners but Rooney fails to find any of his teammates to do the needful.

Something has got to give here. United did well to keep their slate clean but will it be enough to take them through. They sure need Plan B in the second half as it gets underway.

HALF-TIME

United 0 Bayern 0

43" Robben is at it again but can't score after doing all the hard work.

40" Five minutes to the breather and Bayern for all their dominance are yet to rattle the United goal.

36" Robben and Muller run circles round United defence and find Kroos but his top of the box shot is wide.

32" Robben makes his trademark runs but ends up clueless while nearing the box.

30" Bayern have dominated the first 30 minutes but are yet to really test De Gea in the goal.

27" YELLOW! Nemanja Vidic is booked for a heading duel with Mandzukic. A soft booking though.

26" Ribery unleashes a powerful 25-yard pile-drver which has De Gea lunging to his right but it misses the target.

24" Alaba covers around 25 metres with the ball and after a one-touch play with Ribery shoots over.

23" United have crowded their danger area giving Bayern much work to do.

20" Muller and Ribery work in tandem but Ribery is pulled up for off-side much after he wasted time in shooting home from close.

16" Goal disallowed as Valencia is off-side after Rooney floats it into the box.

15" Robben has another shot at goal but again is way above the woorwork.

13" Robben tries a curling left-footer but it passes inches away from the far post.

12" Welbeck tries a solo run and a shot but is way off the mark.

10" United on the back foot here but they manage to keep Robben and Co at bay.

7" Rooney beat the off-side trap and is in a good position to score but somehow hesitates and by the time he decides his shot is blocked by Dante.

5" Bayern mean business. They have already earned their second corner and from it Mandzukic and Ribery's shots were blocked.

3" United have already packed their defence as Bayern come up with another foray.

2" Bayern already earn a corner.

1" Bayern make early inroads as Robben and Ribery work their magic but Ribery's cross lands no in empty space.

Bayern get the game started.

The teams are back in the middle. Bayern will have to make do without Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez. Both are serving suspension, while United have made four changes to the squad that played at Old Trafford.

We are just five minutes away from kick-off between United and Bayern as the players return to the tunnel.

Both the Champions League quarter-finals second leg matches are evenly poised tonight. So go ahead and back your favourite team as only 15 minutes remain for the action to start at the Allianz Arena in Germany and the Vicente Calderon in Spain.

Teams are in the middle for a light warm up as Moyes speaks to the media defending his position on keeping Ferdinand on the bench and going ahead with Smalling saying Smalling's athleticism might be required tonight.

David Moyes suggested Wayne Rooney would be fit to play and true to the Manchester United manager's word, the striker is in the starting XI. Rio Ferdinand drops to the bench, with Chris Smalling taking his place in the side. Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher and Shinji Kagawa come in for Alex Buttner, Marouane Fellaini and Ryan Giggs respectively.

Meanwhile, defender Dante, midfielder Mario Gotze and forward Mario Mandzukic come into the Bayern Munich side. There is no place for right-back Rafinha, with Phillip Lahm taking up his position.

In the build-up to tonight's game, Manchester United players and officials took time out from their preparation to pay respect to the 23 victims of the 1958 Munich air disaster. Survivor Sir Bobby Charlton led the group as they laid tributes at a memorial to the disaster in the German city.

STARTING XI

Man Utd: De Gea, Jones, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Carrick, Valencia, Rooney, Kagawa, Welbeck.

Subs: Lindegaard, BUttner, Ferdinand, Giggs, Januzaj, Young, Hernandez.

Bayern Munich: Neuer, Dante, Ribery, Mandzukic, Robben, Boateng, Gotze, Lahm, Muller, Alaba, Kroos.

Subs: Raeder, Van Buyten, Rafinha, Pizarro, Weiser, Hojbjerg, Weihrauch.

TEAM NEWS

Manchester United: David Moyes has taken a major selection gamble by dropping Rio Ferdinand and bringing in Chris Smalling for the decisive tie at the Allianz Arena, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Wayne Rooney will lead the Red Devils' attack, despite suffering a chipped bone in his left foot, with Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck providing support from the wide positions.

Patrice Evra returns from suspension and should replace Alexander Buttner at left-back.

While Juan Mata is ineligible, Shinji Kagawa and Adnan Januzaj will hope to start having impressed in the 4-0 win at the weekend.

Rafael, Evans and Fellaini have not travelled with the rest of the squad due to injuries.

Bayern: Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was sent off late on in the first leg, and Javi Martinez will miss the match through suspension.

Bayern can welcome Dante back in the heart of the defence though, replacing the Spaniard, having missed the match at Old Trafford due to a ban.

The likes of Alaba, Dante, Boateng, Lahm, Götze, Robben, Ribery and Müller were all rested from kick-off at the weekend and the majority should return to the starting XI.

PROBABLE FORMATIONS

Manchester United: 4-2-3-1

Bayern: 4-1-4-1

STAT ATACK

Manchester United have won four of their last six Champions League away games in Germany.

English clubs have won five and drawn one of their last six Champions League games in Germany.

Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben has won more penalties in the Champions League than any other player this season - 4.

Bayern are undefeated in 13 of their last 14 matches in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

There have been under 2.5 goals scored in Bayern's last 3 games in the Champions League (including qualifiers).

Bayern are undefeated in 9 of their last 10 matches against Man Utd in all competitions.

PREVIEW

Manchester United manager David Moyes is backing his side to safeguard their Champions League legacy by eliminating holders Bayern Munich in Wednesday's quarter-final, second-leg to reach the semi-finals.
 
Having drawn the first-leg 1-1 at Old Trafford, United come to Munich's Allianz Arena hoping to have England striker Wayne Rooney fit after a toe injury.

Moyes has endured a wretched first season in charge and his side are lying seventh in the Premier League, seven points behind Arsenal and a Champions League berth for next season, but a win over Bayern would offer some redemption.

Under Moyes' predecessor Alex Ferguson, United qualified for each Champions League campaign since 1995/96 and Moyes is all too aware that the Europa League will not suffice for the Old Trafford giants.

"This is a competition Manchester United has been very successful in and we'll try to continue that," said Moyes in Munich's press conference.

"It's difficult this year, but we'll keep trying.

"My focus is on this game, not next season, the players are focused and they know their job, it's a big task.

"We have a good record in the Champions League and we want to try to continue that."

United must score at the Allianz Arena to progress as Bayern can go through with a goalless draw.

"That doesn't alter our plan," said Moyes.

"Tactically we'll try to win the game, with the same spirit and determination we showed in the first leg."

United were buoyed by a 4-0 away win at Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday, the same day Bayern crashed to their first Bundesliga defeat in 18 months when they went down 1-0 at Augsburg.

"We'll need a very good performance from everybody," said Moyes.

"We prepared well by beating Newcastle, which gave us all a good opportunity to get ready for this game.

"We want to be in the final, but first of all we have to make sure we get through tomorrow."
United have only twice beaten Bayern in the Champions League.

Their famous 2-1 triumph in the 1999 final was followed by a bitter-sweet 3-2 quarter-final victory at Old Trafford in April 2010, but the Red Devils still went out after the Germans had won the first-leg 2-1 in Munich.

"It's a massive game. We'll do everything we can to reach the semis, but it's hard because of the level of competition and quality of the teams," said Moyes.

"I'd like to have more control of the ball (compared to the first leg) and have more affect on the game."