Villarreal squeezed over an out-of-sorts Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final encounter on Wednesday. Arnaut Danjuma scored the game’s only goal.
The Yellow Submarine, who were playing in their first Champions League last-eight encounter since 2008-09, got off to a flying start, scoring within the first 10 minutes thanks to Danjuma’s sixth goal of the season.
Unai Emery’s team dominated at the Estadio de la Ceramica, with Francis Coquelin having an attempt called out for offside and Gerard Moreno hitting the post.
Julian Nagelsmann’s team struggled to find a leveler, and if they are to go to the final four, they will need to improve substantially in next week’s rematch.
Danjuma guided home Daniel Parejo’s mis-hit attempt from six yards in the eighth minute, capping Villarreal’s brilliant start.
Manuel Neuer was caught off guard by Coquelin’s looping cross just before halftime, but the Bayern goalkeeper’s blushes were spared courtesy to a VAR review that revealed the Villarreal midfielder had been marginally offside.
In the first half, the Bundesliga leaders were significantly off the pace and had failed to register a single shot on target.
Soon after the intermission, Serge Gnabry’s shot went wide, while Moreno’s dipping attempt from 25 yards struck the base of the post.
On the hour mark, Moreno came agonizingly close to a stunning goal, blasting a shot just wide from within his own half following a bad pass from Neuer — the closest either side came to a goal in the final 30 minutes.
Source: livescore news
