MUNICH: Bayern Munich knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League with a dramatic 4-3 victory at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday, winning 6-4 on aggregate after a pulsating quarter-final that was decided by a red card and two late goals in the closing minutes.
Eduardo Camavinga’s dismissal in the 86th minute — his second yellow card for a foul on Harry Kane and then impeding the restart — proved the turning point, reducing the 15-time European champions to 10 men with the tie finely poised at 4-4 on aggregate.
Bayern capitalised ruthlessly. Luis Díaz hammered home from the edge of the box almost immediately after the sending-off, before Michael Olise added a fourth to seal a famous victory for Vincent Kompany’s side and send them into the last four.
The night had begun at a breathless pace, with Arda Güler striking just 35 seconds after kick-off to level the tie at 2-2 on aggregate — one of the fastest goals of this season’s competition. Madrid went in front three times across the evening through Güler, who scored twice, and Kylian Mbappé, only for Bayern to respond each time in front of a roaring home crowd.
Real Madrid’s camp were incensed by the pivotal red card. Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa publicly branded the dismissal “unbelievable,” insisting the decision had cost his side any chance of progressing and casting a shadow over what is shaping up to be a trophy-less season for the Spanish giants.
For Bayern, the victory keeps alive the prospect of a treble, though a formidable challenge awaits in the semi-finals in the form of Paris Saint-Germain.
