Bayern Munich knocks out Juventus in dramatic 4-2 victory

The question on everyone's mind before this match was which Juventus Turin would show up in Munich after their 2-2 draw in Turin: the hopelessly outclassed team of the first half, or the dangerously aggressive team of the second? Juventus made clear which one in the first few minutes, turning the tables on Bayern and taking a 2-0 lead. But Bayern reprised Juventus's role as spoiler and ultimately seized a commanding 4-2 lead in overtime to win the match and advance to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Juventus entered the match ready to pounce, capitalizing on shocking defensive mistakes by David Alaba and Manuel Neuer, allowing Paul Pogba an easy strike on goal a mere five minutes into the match. Apparently miscommunicating with Joshua Kimmich, Neuer then nearly conceded a second goal with a poor clearance that flew straight to a Juventus attacker: the referee called Álvaro Morata offsides as he chipped the ball into Bayern's goal, but on review the call seemed to be mistaken.

As Bayern struggled, Juventus piled on the pressure. Winning possession at the edge of Juventus's penalty area, Morata made a brilliant run all the way to Bayern's own, humiliating a stationary Medhi Benatia and weaving around Joshua Kimmich on the way. He provided an assist to a wide open Cuadrado, who dodged the remaining defenders to score. Only a spectacular save by Neuer minutes later prevented Bayern from falling into an insurmountable three-goal deficit, as Paul Pogba again beat Benatia to set up Cuadrado. The teams parted at halftime with Bayern trailing by two, but it could easily have been four.

Benatia was unceremoniously yanked for Juan Bernat at the start of the second half, allowing Alaba to take over at CB. Tempers soon flared, and a stream of yellow cards were shown to players on both sides. Bayern sought a goal with play on the wings through Costa and Ribery, while Juventus capitalized on every mistake. Again Morata almost single-handedly decided the match with two near misses, first outmaneuvering Alaba to challenge Neuer and moments later shooting high as David Alaba lay helpless at his feet.

Pep Guardiola reconfigured the team again, bringing Kingsley Coman on for Xabi Alonso, while Juventus doubled down on defense. Bayern's dribbles and crosses and anemic shots came up against a wall. But persistence paid off, and Bayern's reinforced offense eventually punched through. A long cross from deep right by Douglas Costa at last found Robert Lewandowski, who headed it into the net. Bayern were back in the game.

Bayern showed new-found energy, while the pace of Juventus's attack slowed with the substitution of Mandzukic for lightning-fast Morata. As Bayern furiously harassed Juventus's penalty area, Douglas Costa again found Lewandowski on a long pass. This time, though, Lewandowski was called offsides as his header hit the post. Douglas Costa made yet another attempt with a Robben-esque shot from the right that floated just past the far post.

In the dying minutes of the half, with Bayern still down by one, Kinglsey Coman again showed his worth against his former side: keeping possession with a gritty play, Vidal found Coman on the far right. Leaving Juventus no time to track back, Coman shot the ball across Buffon's goal, enabling Thomas Muller to hit a perfectly timed header at the far post. Bayern's Champions League campaign had been saved with no time to spare.

As the game went into overtime, Juventus nearly retook the lead. Lichtsteiner tested Neuer with a breakaway shot, but Bayern soon regained control. Twice Ribery tiptoed toward Juventus's goal only to be blocked. It would be his substitute, however, Thiago, who decided the game. Intercepting a defensive mistake by Evra, Thiago coolly played the ball off Muller as he rushed toward the goal and shot it home. Then Kingsley Coman buried his parent club, running away with the ball and shooting it past Buffon into the far corner.

As Neuer denied Juventus's final shots, Bayern had pulled off a complete reversal of the first leg, erasing a surprising two-goal deficit and hammering the visitors for two more goals in overtime to keep their Champions League aspirations alive in a stunning 4-2 victory.

Match Details

Bayern Munich (4-2) Juventus Turin

Goals:
Bayern: Lewandowski (73'), Muller (91'), Thiago (108'), Coman (110')
Juventus: Pogba (5'), Cuadrado (28')

Yellow Cards:
Bayern: Kimmich (44'), Vidal (48'), Lewandowski (52'), Thiago (109'), Bernat (112')
Juventus: Khedira (29'), Morata (38'), Lichtsteiner (48'), Bonucci (53'), Cuadrado (71'), Pereyra (103'), Scuraro (112')

Bayern XI: Neuer - Alaba, Benatia (Bernat 46'), Kimmich, Lahm - Vidal, Alonso (Alonso 60') - Ribery (Thiago 101'), Müller, Costa - Lewandowski

Juventus XI: Buffon - Evra, Bonucci, Barzagli, Lichsteiner - Hernanes, Khedira (Sturaro 68') - Cuadrado (Pereyra 89'), Sandro, Pogba - Morata (Mandzukic 72')