It’s a strange position for Bayern to find themselves in and the pressure seems to be increasing on their manager. The medical team resigned in the wake of the club’s 3-1 first-leg defeat and he’s been forced to answer questions about his future.
Elimination from the competition tonight is inconceivable, really.
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21 Apr 2015
7:07PM
Good evening everyone and welcome to our coverage of what promises to be a really great clash. Bayern have it all to do after their first-leg collapse but they have an away goal in the bag and it could prove crucial.
So, as predicted, Bayern are without Franck Ribery but Bastian Schweinsteiger is fit enough for a place on the bench. He missed the first game because of a virus.
The Portuguese side are without Brazilian defenders Danilo and Alex Sandro because of suspension but Ivan Marcano does return.
Bayern have reached the final four of the competition in each of the last 3 seasons. So getting knocked out tonight would be disastrous.
21 Apr 2015
7:36PM
Meanwhile, Porto haven’t been in a Champions League semi-final since 2004, when they won the competition under a certain Jose Mourinho. Whatever happened to him?
Fortunate enough to have been there and it is an incredibly special place. Now, if Bayern were to crash out tonight, it probably won’t be such a thrilling venue…
Not many better pre-match atmospheres in Europe than Bayern Munich. Allianz Arena is rocking....
Lewandowski climbs highest as a cross comes in from the right but he can’t get over the ball enough so it’s high and harmless.
21 Apr 2015
7:51PM
Direct approach from Bayern here as Lewandowski cushions a header down for Mueller but as he drives a shot towards goal, a Porto defender gets back to make a block. The hosts have come flying out of the traps and are well in control.
21 Apr 2015
7:53PM
Anyone wondering where Dante is (he had a nightmare in the first-leg), by the way, he’s on the bench tonight with Badstuber playing instead of him.
21 Apr 2015
7:55PM
Inevitably, Porto are from from interested in pushing Bayern. Instead, they’ve dropped back and want Bayern to come onto them. But, there have been some gaps early on here so they need to be careful. Moments ago, Lahm was left all alone on the right and was able to race towards the area.
VERY CLOSE! Goodness me. Bayern should be in front here. Lewandowski plays in Mueller and he races through on goal. He fires in a shot from a fairly tight angle but Fabiano pushes it out. Lewandowski follows up but hits the post and Porto clear! What a chance. A big let-off for the guests.
21 Apr 2015
7:59PM
A foray down the left side for Porto’s Brahimi. Some nice footwork makes him a yard and he whips in a teasing cross. But there’s no team-mate in there for him and Neuer gleefully rises high to take it.
That’s really well-worked and Bayern have Porto exactly where they want them now. It’s been one-way traffic since kick-off and it all stems from a cross on the right side that misses everyone but is picked up by Goetze at the far post. He sends it inside to Bernat who instantly pushes it wide again with his first touch and makes space for himself. He whips in a great delivery to the near post and Thiago nods it to the net.
Mueller races onto a crisp pass from the back and it sits up nicely for him to take a shot. He does that but Fabiano saves easily enough. Another corner here for Bayern, by the way…No let-up whatsoever.
From that corner, Badstuber meets it at the far post and sends it back across into the danger area. Boateng rises highest but he can’t get much power or pace on the header though he directs it towards the bottom corner and Fabiano can’t reach it. What a start by the home side. Porto’s dreams have been tore to shreds here.
This is incredible. This time it’s a Mueller flick-on as the ball comes in from the right. Behind him, lurking dangerously, is Lewandowski and he gets above the ball and directs a powerful downward header to the net, despite Fabiano’s best efforts.
It’s not injury-related. Reyes has just been roasted down the right-side with Goetze and Bernat running riot. They’ve got 10 more minutes of this, Porto, before they can take a breath.
A huge deflection but Fabiano has made an absolute mess of this. Mueller shoots from distance but the goalkeeper seems to be in control of it only for the ball to go through his legs as he’s diving towards his far post. Sums up Porto’s first-half, really.
Referee Martin Atkinson really should call this off at half-time. Once the second goal went in, Porto just collapsed. This time the Polish striker takes a touch in the area and sends the low strike to the far corner. Every time Bayern enter Porto’s half (which has been for the entire half, really), they look like they’re going to score. What a massacre.
OUCH! Badstuber is a very lucky boy here. He dives into a reckless tackle, both feet off the ground and he escapes with a yellow. Deserved more. Extremely dangerous.
I have to take a breath. Wow. That was an insane half of football and in the space of 26 minutes, Bayern have put themselves in a Champions League semi-final. They’ve been relentless since kick-off with direct football, pace in wide areas and haven’t allowed Porto out of their half. A very un-Pep-like performance but it’s worked an absolute treat.
SUBSTITUTION! Ruben Neves (on) – Ricardo Quaresma (off)
By the way, Porto made a change at the interval. Ruben Neves is the unlucky guy that gets to walk into this.
21 Apr 2015
8:53PM
For what it’s worth, it would’ve been calamitous if Bayern went out tonight but it was expected that they’d go out and deliver a response. Should Guardiola fail to land the Champions League again this season, he’ll still be under pressure.
CLOSE! It’s Alonso who steps up and whips the free-kick towards the near post but it’s slightly too high. Meanwhile, Pep continues to issue a litany of instructions to Mueller. He never stops, does he?
CLOSE! Almost another for Bayern as a cross from the right side very nearly ends up in the Porto net via a defender’s foot. Instead it goes over the top.
It hasn’t really been a night for Porto’s attacking players, has it? In fairness, it hasn’t really been a night for any of their players.
21 Apr 2015
9:13PM
Which is rare is wonderful. Porto attack (yes, that’s not a typo) and whip in a cross from the left side. It’s a decent delivery but slightly too long and it eventually bounces out of play.
21 Apr 2015
9:14PM
More attacking from Porto and some encouraging stuff but it all inevitably comes to an end and Bayern break with Mueller who’s taken down as the counter-attack is stemmed. Marcano goes in the book as a result of the foul.
Well, there’s some tiny consolation for the guests. To their credit, they’ve pushed hard in the last few minutes and they get their just rewards here. A nice move on the right side and when the low cross is swept in, Martinez is there to tap it to the net.
VERY CLOSE! Bizarrely, given how this game has gone, that’s a really big chance. Martinez shows off some silky skills, manages to engineer space and races into the area. It opens up for him to shoot across Neuer which he does…it rolls agonisingly wide of the far post.
CLOSE! And at the other end, Lewandowski fizzes a shot just wide as Bayern look for a sixth. After a longish lull, it’s really brightened up in the last 5 or 10 minutes.
21 Apr 2015
9:24PM
Bayern are going to bring in Basti Schweini in a few moments…
Porto have found some spirit in the last while. To think what could’ve happened if they started the game with some purpose instead of sitting back and trying to absorb Bayern…
Well, Schweinsteiger was stripped and ready to come on but it seems there’s been a change of heart on the Bayern bench and it’s Weiser who has come on instead.
Incredible from Bayern. They swept a poor Porto aside and it was a firm statement of intent. It was a direct approach – they had a target man in Lewandowski and plenty of attacking play down both flanks. It was aggressive, it was high-energy and it was awesome. Still, Porto were completely overwhelmed and finally took a breath at half-time. By then, it was far too late and the tie was over.
There will be plenty of talk about silencing critics but failure to beat Porto tonight would’ve been devastating. But it was the manner of the victory that will draw admiration from all quarters.
Plenty of six appeal from the Germans tonight and they’ll head into Friday’s semi-final draw feeling immensely confident.
Thanks for staying with us and there will be plenty more reaction to tonight’s action on the site throughout the evening.
As it happened: Bayern Munich v FC Porto, Champions League
It’s a strange position for Bayern to find themselves in and the pressure seems to be increasing on their manager. The medical team resigned in the wake of the club’s 3-1 first-leg defeat and he’s been forced to answer questions about his future.
Elimination from the competition tonight is inconceivable, really.
As always, we’d love to hear from you. Email, tweet or leave a message on our Facebook page.
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Good evening everyone and welcome to our coverage of what promises to be a really great clash. Bayern have it all to do after their first-leg collapse but they have an away goal in the bag and it could prove crucial.
Let’s get to the team news firstly.
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Bernat, Lahm, Alonso, Thiago, Muller, Lewandowski, Gotze.
Subs: Reina, Dante, Pizarro, Gaudino, Rode, Weiser, Schweinsteiger.
FC Porto: Fabiano, Reyes, Maicon, Marcano, Martins Indi, Herrera, Casemiro, Torres, Quaresma, Martinez, Brahimi.
Subs: Helton, Quintero, Evandro, Hernani, Ricardo Pereira, Ruben Neves, Aboubakar.
So, as predicted, Bayern are without Franck Ribery but Bastian Schweinsteiger is fit enough for a place on the bench. He missed the first game because of a virus.
The Portuguese side are without Brazilian defenders Danilo and Alex Sandro because of suspension but Ivan Marcano does return.
Here’s something to get you in the mood before kick-off. German football expert Mark Rodden spoke to me about why everything is going pear-shaped for Pep Guardiola recently.
Interesting fact: Guardiola and Porto coach Julen Lopetegui go way back – they played together at Barcelona in the 1990s.
Bayern have reached the final four of the competition in each of the last 3 seasons. So getting knocked out tonight would be disastrous.
Meanwhile, Porto haven’t been in a Champions League semi-final since 2004, when they won the competition under a certain Jose Mourinho. Whatever happened to him?
Fortunate enough to have been there and it is an incredibly special place. Now, if Bayern were to crash out tonight, it probably won’t be such a thrilling venue…
AND WE’RE OFF!
It’s going to be tough but they’ve begun brightly here and have pressed Porto high up the pitch.
Lewandowski climbs highest as a cross comes in from the right but he can’t get over the ball enough so it’s high and harmless.
Direct approach from Bayern here as Lewandowski cushions a header down for Mueller but as he drives a shot towards goal, a Porto defender gets back to make a block. The hosts have come flying out of the traps and are well in control.
Anyone wondering where Dante is (he had a nightmare in the first-leg), by the way, he’s on the bench tonight with Badstuber playing instead of him.
Inevitably, Porto are from from interested in pushing Bayern. Instead, they’ve dropped back and want Bayern to come onto them. But, there have been some gaps early on here so they need to be careful. Moments ago, Lahm was left all alone on the right and was able to race towards the area.
VERY CLOSE! Goodness me. Bayern should be in front here. Lewandowski plays in Mueller and he races through on goal. He fires in a shot from a fairly tight angle but Fabiano pushes it out. Lewandowski follows up but hits the post and Porto clear! What a chance. A big let-off for the guests.
A foray down the left side for Porto’s Brahimi. Some nice footwork makes him a yard and he whips in a teasing cross. But there’s no team-mate in there for him and Neuer gleefully rises high to take it.
GOAL! Thiago!
That’s really well-worked and Bayern have Porto exactly where they want them now. It’s been one-way traffic since kick-off and it all stems from a cross on the right side that misses everyone but is picked up by Goetze at the far post. He sends it inside to Bernat who instantly pushes it wide again with his first touch and makes space for himself. He whips in a great delivery to the near post and Thiago nods it to the net.
All about the cross, really. Thiago couldn’t miss. Porto can’t sit on this now. They’ll have to come out and play.
Mueller races onto a crisp pass from the back and it sits up nicely for him to take a shot. He does that but Fabiano saves easily enough. Another corner here for Bayern, by the way…No let-up whatsoever.
GOAL! Boateng!
From that corner, Badstuber meets it at the far post and sends it back across into the danger area. Boateng rises highest but he can’t get much power or pace on the header though he directs it towards the bottom corner and Fabiano can’t reach it. What a start by the home side. Porto’s dreams have been tore to shreds here.
GOAL! Lewandowski!
This is incredible. This time it’s a Mueller flick-on as the ball comes in from the right. Behind him, lurking dangerously, is Lewandowski and he gets above the ball and directs a powerful downward header to the net, despite Fabiano’s best efforts.
Lovely touch from Mueller – knows exactly what he’s doing. From there, Lewandowski was never going to miss.
SUBSTITUTION! Ricardo (on) – Reyes (off)
It’s not injury-related. Reyes has just been roasted down the right-side with Goetze and Bernat running riot. They’ve got 10 more minutes of this, Porto, before they can take a breath.
GOAL! Mueller!
A huge deflection but Fabiano has made an absolute mess of this. Mueller shoots from distance but the goalkeeper seems to be in control of it only for the ball to go through his legs as he’s diving towards his far post. Sums up Porto’s first-half, really.
The replay does Fabiano no favours at all.
GOAL! Lewandowski!
Referee Martin Atkinson really should call this off at half-time. Once the second goal went in, Porto just collapsed. This time the Polish striker takes a touch in the area and sends the low strike to the far corner. Every time Bayern enter Porto’s half (which has been for the entire half, really), they look like they’re going to score. What a massacre.
OUCH! Badstuber is a very lucky boy here. He dives into a reckless tackle, both feet off the ground and he escapes with a yellow. Deserved more. Extremely dangerous.
AND THAT’S HALF-TIME!
I have to take a breath. Wow. That was an insane half of football and in the space of 26 minutes, Bayern have put themselves in a Champions League semi-final. They’ve been relentless since kick-off with direct football, pace in wide areas and haven’t allowed Porto out of their half. A very un-Pep-like performance but it’s worked an absolute treat.
AND WE’RE UNDERWAY AGAIN!
CLOSE! That should be six. Goetze has a shot at the far post after Ricardo makes a complete hash of his clearance. But it flies past the post.
SUBSTITUTION! Ruben Neves (on) – Ricardo Quaresma (off)
By the way, Porto made a change at the interval. Ruben Neves is the unlucky guy that gets to walk into this.
For what it’s worth, it would’ve been calamitous if Bayern went out tonight but it was expected that they’d go out and deliver a response. Should Guardiola fail to land the Champions League again this season, he’ll still be under pressure.
You probably won’t find a more damning statistic but for what’s on the scoreboard.
Lewandowski winds up to shoot on the edge of the box but there’s a last-ditch block before Porto concede another free-kick. Brace yourself, Rodney…
CLOSE! It’s Alonso who steps up and whips the free-kick towards the near post but it’s slightly too high. Meanwhile, Pep continues to issue a litany of instructions to Mueller. He never stops, does he?
CLOSE! Almost another for Bayern as a cross from the right side very nearly ends up in the Porto net via a defender’s foot. Instead it goes over the top.
SUBSTITUTION! Evandro (on) – Brahimi (off)
It hasn’t really been a night for Porto’s attacking players, has it? In fairness, it hasn’t really been a night for any of their players.
Which is rare is wonderful. Porto attack (yes, that’s not a typo) and whip in a cross from the left side. It’s a decent delivery but slightly too long and it eventually bounces out of play.
More attacking from Porto and some encouraging stuff but it all inevitably comes to an end and Bayern break with Mueller who’s taken down as the counter-attack is stemmed. Marcano goes in the book as a result of the foul.
SUBSTITUTION! Rode (on) – Rafinha (off)
Rafinha is holding his groin and it looks like the change is precautionary. Pep has a few words with the Brazilian.
GOAL! Jackson Martinez!
Well, there’s some tiny consolation for the guests. To their credit, they’ve pushed hard in the last few minutes and they get their just rewards here. A nice move on the right side and when the low cross is swept in, Martinez is there to tap it to the net.
VERY CLOSE! Bizarrely, given how this game has gone, that’s a really big chance. Martinez shows off some silky skills, manages to engineer space and races into the area. It opens up for him to shoot across Neuer which he does…it rolls agonisingly wide of the far post.
CLOSE! And at the other end, Lewandowski fizzes a shot just wide as Bayern look for a sixth. After a longish lull, it’s really brightened up in the last 5 or 10 minutes.
Bayern are going to bring in Basti Schweini in a few moments…
In other news…
Porto have found some spirit in the last while. To think what could’ve happened if they started the game with some purpose instead of sitting back and trying to absorb Bayern…
SUBSTITUTION! Weiser (on) – Goetze (off)
Well, Schweinsteiger was stripped and ready to come on but it seems there’s been a change of heart on the Bayern bench and it’s Weiser who has come on instead.
RED CARD! Marcano brings down Thiago and he’s already been booked. So, Porto down to 10 men and with a dangerous free-kick here…
GOAL! Alonso!
The Spanish midfielder effortlessly sweeps the free-kick inside the near post and that’s magnificent. The joy of six for Bayern tonight.
SUBSTITUTION! Dante (on) – Thiago (off)
Dante has a few minutes to exorcise those demons from the first leg!
This has been fun!
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME!
Incredible from Bayern. They swept a poor Porto aside and it was a firm statement of intent. It was a direct approach – they had a target man in Lewandowski and plenty of attacking play down both flanks. It was aggressive, it was high-energy and it was awesome. Still, Porto were completely overwhelmed and finally took a breath at half-time. By then, it was far too late and the tie was over.
There will be plenty of talk about silencing critics but failure to beat Porto tonight would’ve been devastating. But it was the manner of the victory that will draw admiration from all quarters.
Plenty of six appeal from the Germans tonight and they’ll head into Friday’s semi-final draw feeling immensely confident.
Thanks for staying with us and there will be plenty more reaction to tonight’s action on the site throughout the evening.
Expert view: Where has it all gone wrong for Pep Guardiola?
‘Who’d be a visionary genius?’ – Can Guardiola ignore the critics and stay on track?
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UEFA Champions League Minute-by-Minute Pep Guardiola Bayern Munich Porto