FC Bayern miss out on the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in eight seasons, after losing 3-1 to Liverpool on Wednesday night following a goalless draw in the first leg.
Sadio Mané handed the visitors the lead midway through the first half, Liverpool’s Joel Matip putting through his own goal before half-time. Virgil van Dijk and again Mané closed out the contest in the second half.
The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Rafinha, Niklas Süle, Mats Hummels and David Alaba in a back four. Javi Martínez and Thiago anchored a midfield featuring Serge Gnabry, James and Franck Ribéry, with Robert Lewandowski as sole striker. Kingsley Coman, Leon Goretzka and Renato Sanches came on for Ribéry, Martínez and James in the second half.
Bayern wake up after shock
The 70,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw the two heavyweights feel each other out at first. The first chance fell to Bayern when Thiago got hold of the ball on the edge of the box, but the Spaniard rifled over the bar. Roberto Firminho fired wide at the other end but when the visitors took the lead it was out of nothing, Mané shining with a brilliant first touch to control a long ball before rounding Neuer and slotting home. The game sprang to life now, Bayern upping the ante in the effort to get the two goals they needed to progress.
Lewandowski saw an effort deflected before Neuer denied Andrew Robertson and a Gnabry cross evaded the Poland captain. However, Gnabry soon excelled on the right and crossed again, and this time Matip put through his own goal under pressure from Lewandowski. Fabinho resorted to a foul to stop the charging James, Alaba stepping up, but netminder Alisson proved equal to the Austrian’s free-kick from 25 yards. Lewandowski poked the ball past Alisson but the effort trickled just wide, and the linesman raised his flag for offside anyway. When match official Daniele Orsato blew for half-time Bayern needed only one goal to make it to the quarter-finals.
All over
The contest was evenly balanced after the restart, Salah warming Neuer’s gloves in a scrappy phase with a string of niggly fouls. Lewandowski failed to connect with another Gnabry cross, but the day turned sour when van Dijk rose highest to meet a corner and head past Neuer.
The shot-stopper denied Mané before sub Sanches miscued at the other end. Bayern’s dream was over when a fine Mohamed Salah cross found Mané, whose header found the net.
The German record champions will be back in action on Sunday, when they entertain Mainz, with the Bavarians looking to retain top spot in the Bundesliga.
