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The UEFA Champions League quarterfinals got underway in THAT style this Tuesday (7).
Highlighted by the highly anticipated Kompany’s Bayern Munich against Arbeloa’s Real Madrid.
At the Bernabéu, in a match marked by a SPECTACULAR display from 40-year-old Manuel Neuer.
At 40, he made at least three BIG saves.
And watched his teammates get the job done up front.
There was also the first Sporting versus Arsenal clash.
Check out a full recap of both matches and the standout moments below.
🇵🇹 Sporting 0 x 1 Arsenal 🏴
The first half featured a shot off the crossbar for each side.
The Lisbon side’s came from a Maxi Araújo attempt.
The Gunners’ came after a corner taken by Madueke.
Possession was evenly shared, with the home side doing a better job finishing their chances.
Arsenal were superior after the break.
They even scored through Zubimendi. But he was offside.
The end-to-end action was intense.
Sporting threatened through their jewel Geny Catamo.
But Arsenal were the ones to come out smiling in the Portuguese capital.
A brilliant move by Martinelli and a goal from Havertz in the 91st minute.
Arsenal will have the advantage of playing for a draw in front of their home crowd next Wednesday.
🇪🇸 Real 1 x 2 Bayern 🇩🇪
There was PLENTY of excitement right from the first half.
The German side had more of the ball. Which left Arbeloa’s team “comfortable” looking for counterattacks.
It was by breaking at speed that Real created their two best chances.
But then there was a certain goalkeeper, 40 years old and with 136 Champions League appearances for Bayern – only Casillas (149) has more games in the competition for a single club.
Neuer first denied Vini Jr.
And then he said “no” to Mbappé.
Bayern were threatening too. They nearly took advantage of space inside the box.
They also saw Real make plenty of mistakes playing out from the back.
Their goal came after carving through Madrid’s defense before Luis Díaz finished past Lunin (41').
Then came the second half and, in less than 30 seconds, Bayern’s second goal.
Scored by him, Harry Kane.
With no other option, Real did what they could to limit the damage.
But once again, beating Neuer was anything but simple.
Vini had a BIG chance after an Upamecano mistake. But shot wide.
And the German goalkeeper frustrated Mbappé again later on.
Mbappé finally got the better of his tormentor in the 74th minute, after another lapse from Upamecano.
Bayern began to suffer more as they struggled to match the intensity of a growing Real side.
But at the same time, they started finding spaces in the final minutes. Spaces they failed to make count.
Still, they celebrate the win on Spanish soil and the advantage of playing for a draw in the second leg next Wednesday.
What’s coming on Wednesday 📅
It will be the first legs of the other ties.
Barça and Atleti meet again after the Copa del Rey semifinal.
Meanwhile, reigning champions PSG take on a stumbling Liverpool.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
