Bayern Munich secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Wednesday, advancing to the Champions League semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win.
Joshua Kimmich’s powerful 63rd-minute header proved decisive. The German international rose above the Arsenal defense to connect with a Raphael Guerreiro cross, sending the Allianz Arena crowd into a frenzy.
Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern failed to convert their early chances. Arsenal, aiming for their first semi-final appearance since 2009, remained cautious but created a scare with a Gabriel Martinelli shot that went straight to Manuel Neuer, who set a Champions League record with his 58th clean sheet.
The second half saw Bayern ramp up the pressure. A double chance just after the restart saw Leon Goretzka’s header bounce off the crossbar before Guerreiro rattled the post with the rebound. Finally, Kimmich broke the deadlock with his well-placed header.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made substitutions in search of an equalizer, but the Gunners struggled to penetrate Bayern’s disciplined defense. The defeat adds to Arsenal’s woes, coming just days after their Premier League title hopes were dented by a loss to Aston Villa.
Bayern, enduring a challenging domestic season, now face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals. This marks a successful return to the latter stages of the competition for the Bavarians, and a historic achievement for outgoing manager Thomas Tuchel, who becomes the first German coach to reach the Champions League semi-finals with three different clubs.
