Champions League
Wow! Villarreal beat Bayern after a great tactical performance, they may regret their missed chances. This is how to celebrate in Spain
A great day for Spanish football! Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Villarreal both made it through the first matches of the Champions League quarter-finals, with the latter in particular being a huge sensation. Unaia Emery’s charges took on the famous Bayern Munich.
A great day for Spanish football! Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Villarreal both made it through the first matches of the Champions League quarter-finals, with the latter in particular being a huge sensation. Unaia Emery’s charges took on the famous Bayern Munich.
Not many people expected this! That Real Madrid can handle Chelsea? It was to be expected, or rather, it’s certainly not a huge surprise. But it is not the case with Villarreal, who entered the double-header with Bayern Munich as a clear underdog.
However, in the small Spanish city of around 50,000 inhabitants, they were especially looking forward to a huge football feast. The Champions League quarter-finals are not played there every day, or even every year. Let alone with Bayern, who are undoubtedly one of the best and biggest clubs on the planet.
Even the pre-match atmosphere was a hint that something big could be happening. And that’s exactly what happened. Villarreal managed to beat Bayern Munich 1-0 on home soil.
Bayern can be happy that they only lost by a goal
From the start of the game, everything was going in the home team’s favour. Villarreal was tactically well prepared and did not let Bayern do anything in the first act. It’s not often you see that, but Julian Nagelsmann’s charges didn’t have a shot between the three posts after 45 minutes.
Villarreal took the lead in the 8th minute, but created more chances. However, they were hampered by inaccurate finishing, with the Bayern players blocking against them. The Bavarians were zero in front for a long time, they had practically no space or time to combine.
The question was how long Villarreal could keep playing at such a frantic pace. And it lasted quite a long time. It was only during the second half that the visitors started to get into more promising positions, but they didn’t develop any 100 percent opportunities compared to the visitors, who had several.
Robert Lewandowski was almost invisible, Alphonso Davies and his speed? Didn’t stand out in the match. Virtually none of Bayern’s stars had a chance to show what they can do. Villarreal’s heroic and brilliant tactical performance simply didn’t give the Bavarians a chance.
Bayern may feel aggrieved, Villarreal may regret the chances they missed
Villarreal are understandably rejoicing in one of the biggest wins in the club’s history. However, it can hope that after the return leg in Munich it will not have to regret the missed chances.
Bayern can rightly feel the injustice. Leon Goretzka was elbowed in the face in the penalty area in injury time and also suffered a laceration. A penalty could and should have been whistled, which could have changed the result, but it didn’t.
Goretzka did not even finish the game. Villarreal were very lucky. But everyone knows Bayern’s strength on home soil. The Spanish side must not travel to Bavaria with too much respect. If they can put in a similar performance in the rematch, they may have a chance of progressing.
But Bayern are unbeaten at home. What’s more, it’s not good to lead against Bayern. When it does, its strength can be all the more devastating. Will we see a sensation, or will the Bavarians avert it?
Sources: Twitter, UEFA