Germany’s Bayern Munich snatched a valuable 2-2 draw from its English host Arsenal on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium in north London in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League, giving it a relative advantage in reaching the semi-finals when it hosts the return match at its home stadium next week.
Bukayo Saka opened the scoring for Arsenal (12), and Bayern responded with two goals from Serge Gnabry (18) and Harry Kane (32 from a penalty kick), before Belgian substitute Leandro Trossard equalized for Arsenal (76).
Bayern Munich played the match in the absence of its supporters due to the European Football Association’s decision to punish it for its fans throwing fiery projectiles during its match against Italian Lazio at the Allianz Arena in the second leg of the 16th final.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta made two substitutions in the squad that played the match against Brighton (3-0) in the local league last weekend, with Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli replacing his compatriot striker Gabriel Jesus, in addition to the participation of Polish left back Jakub Kuyur instead of Ukrainian Oleksandr Zinchenko. .
On the other hand, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer returned between the three posts after being absent from his team since the international window.
Bayern did not enter the match at its best, as it is 16 points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen in the German League after Saturday’s embarrassing defeat against Heidenheim (2-3).
On the other hand, Arsenal leads the English Premier League standings on goal difference over Liverpool, and is competing in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2010, when its campaign ended at the hands of the Spanish Barcelona, knowing that it was eliminated by the Bavarian club in the last 16 in 2017, 2014, 2013 and 2005.
Arsenal’s first dangerous shot was by Martinelli, which went past the post (7).
Canadian full-back Alfonso Davis received a yellow card for committing a foul on Saka and will miss the second leg.
Arsenal succeeded in opening the scoring when Yukayo Saka received the ball inside the area and took it two steps before curling it out of Neuer’s reach (12).
Defender Ben White almost added the second goal when he was alone with Neuer, but the latter blocked his attempt brilliantly (16).
Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel was confused by the departure of his Spanish goalkeeper, David Raya, from his goal. He randomly dispersed the ball and Bayern Munich launched a lightning attack in which the ball reached Leon Goretzka, who passed a through ball towards former Arsenal striker Gnabry, who shot between Raya’s legs (18).
Then things got worse for Arsenal when the referee awarded a penalty kick to Bayern following a wonderful individual effort by Leroy Sané and a foul on him by French defender William Saliba, so Harry Kane successfully executed it.
Former Tottenham striker Kane played 20 matches against Arsenal, raising his own goal tally to 15 goals.
Arsenal entered the second half trying to equalize, but clashed with good defensive organization by the Bavarian team and did not create many chances.
Arteta made two substitutions by bringing on Jesus and Trossard midway through the second half, and the first succeeded in passing a decisive ball towards the second to score the equalizing goal with a crawling ball (76).