Read our match report
Righto, that’s me done – check back for the report, which’ll be here in two shakes of a lamb’s tail. Thanks for your company and comments – peace out.
Danjuma tells BT that it was a special night, Champions League is incomparable. He thinks his team can do much better, but 1-0 against Bayern is a decent result; he’s asked about Emery’s plan – he mentioned it pre-match – but won’t spill, with the tie still going. He calls his manager a “tactical mastermind”, saying he always comes up with a plan that works, but the players didn’t execute it to it’s fullest possible extent because they didn’t take their chances, so he feels “a bit dubious”. That’s a lovely expression.
Yup, it’s been a wild night.
I said this during the game but now I’ve had time to reflect, I’m still struggling to think of any better games I’ve seen this season. And I’m also struggling to fathom Bayern improving enough to win this thing.
Elsewhere, Karim Benzema’s second straight Champions League hat-trick at Stamford Bridge means Real Madrid take a 3-1 lead back to the Bernabéu. They look good for a semi against Man City or Atletico.
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What a game, though.
Every single one of those Villarreal players had a blinder tonight, and the credit for that must go to Unai Emery, who played a perfect game. His players were aggressive, confident, enterprising and doughty, totally deserving their win. If they play like that in Munich, they’ve every chance of progressing, though Bayern will still be favourites.
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Full-time: Villarreal 1-0 Bayern Munich
Bayern lose away in Europe for the first time since 2017, and what a performance from Villarreal to make it happen! But have they missed a trick not winning by more? I can’t wait for the second leg to find out.
90+5 min Or not. Roca replaces him for the last few seconds. El Madrigal – sorry Paul – is going wild.
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90+3 min Goretzka is caught by Pau’s flailing arm; he goes down, but he’ll be fine.
90+3 min A lot can change between now and the end of May, but Bayern do not look like champions of Europe. The way they play is fine for the Bundesliga, but just as Pep Guardiola’s defences – at Bayern and City – have cost him in Europe, so does Nagelsmann’s high line look likely to get his team into trouble against another quality attack.
90+1 min Hernandez marauds down the left and drives a cross to the back post where Coman waits ... to volley straight at Rulli.
90 min There’ll be four added minutes.
90 min A ball over the top picks out Moreno, and he takes it down gloriously, on his instep, killing it while angling his foot to take it away from Davies. He can’t make anything of it, but that was lush.
89 min It’s mad to say this given they’re in front, but have Villarreal missed their chance tonight? Kimmich drives a ball to Coman at the far post, but as he slides in a defender, I don’t see who, gets a flick and the ball goes out for a corner. It comes to nowt.
87 min WHAT IS GOING ON! Lo Celso, who’s been absolutely bazzing tonight, takes a fine pass from Capoue and streaks towards the Bayern box, veering right to create the space to Pedraza outside him. He slides the ball into his path ... and it all gets too much, the lights too bright, and he slices a wild shot wide of the near post. On the touchline, Emery is on an absolute buzz – he is loving this, and rightly expletive so.
85 min I’m a little surprised Bayern haven’t chucked another man up front. They’re not losing simply because they’re players aren’t playing that well, they’re also losing because their system isn’t working that well. And as I type that, Rulli catches yet another cross, which sort of proves my point: if you’re tossing them in, you need more than one man attacking the ball.
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84 min The game has died a bit – Bayern have run out of ideas, and will want to make sure they don’t concede again. 1-0 and you’d be pretty surprised if they went out, 2-0 and they’re in the smelly stuff.
83 min It’s not the Madrigal any more Dan,” tweets Paul Giblin. “It’s the Estadio de la Ceramica. But given Zelensky’s comments about the owners’ company still trading with Russia yesterday, maybe it should be known as the Porcelain bowl Only for the owner mind ... It’s a very friendly, well-run club.”
It’s the family Madrigal. My eight-year-old insists.
82 min Double change for Villarreal, Aurier and Chukwueze replacing Foyth and Danjuma, both of whom have been excellent.
80 min We see footage of Albiol crashing into Goretzka inside the box, presumably in that last attack, and he doesn’t get anything of the ball. I’m sort of glad a penalty wasn’t given because it wasn’t the kind of challenge that needed punishing with a goal, but I’m not certain how it wasn’t. I say this a lot, but ultimately, we should change the law: if an infringement denies a goalscoring opportunity anywhere on the pitch, penalty; an infringement in the box that doesn’t direct free-kick.
79 min But here’s Musiala, sliding Goretzka into the box ... and immediately, he’s surrounded by 836 yellow shirts, who tear into him the second his first touch is a little heavy.
77 min I can’t think of a proper clear-cut chance Bayern have created all night, whereas Villarreal have had several.
75 min You’d have thought that once the game got stretched, it’d suit Bayern, who thrive on space, but actually, they’ve come closer to conceding on the counter. The pace has slowed a little, though, which is no great surprise because the players must be cream.
74 min Estupinan is booked for timewasting.
73 min Lo Celso picks up possession inside his own half and twinkles towards the Bayern box and he’s got Danjuma in space! But he holds on too long, allowing Sule to intervene, but Villarreal come again, Estupinan thrusting down the left and slinging over a terrific cross that someone – Hernandez I think – heads over the top. The corner comes to nowt, but again, Villarreal look just as likely as Bayern to score next, if not more so.
72 min Nagelsmann sends Sule on for Pavard, presumably to stick the nut on whichever set-pieces are to come.
70 min In other oh my absolute complete and utter days news, Maxwel Cornet’s late winner has given Burnley the win over Everton. Their run-in is brutal – once they’re done with Man United at the weekend, lolz – and there’s every chance they’re going down.
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68 min This is just ludicrous! Coman picks the ball up in space, shifts it to force and angle, then unfurls a curler that looks headed for the top corner, only for Pau to stretch his forehead and flick it over the top! That is stupendous defending, it really is – goodness me, this is so good I’m talking like Jamie Redknapp – and the resultant corner comes to noet.
67 min This is now the best game I’ve seen this season, an absolute slugfest with no shortage of quality, and her comes Villarreal yet again, Moreno squaring to Danjuma, alone in the box ... he must score! But no, he absolutely hammers fresh air into the corner but misses the ball, and Musiala slides in to makes sure he can’t redeem himself.
66 min Bayern win a corner which Rulli punches up in the air, the ball arriving at Davies’ feet on the edge. He drives, the shot’s blocked, then he drives again and Rulli pouches.
65 min Brilliant behaviour from Musiala, nipping away from Pau and nicking over Albiol’s wild challenge as he drives towards the box, but Pau gets back at him really well, sliding in before he can shoot or pick a killer ball.
64 min This is an absolute banger of a game and Bayern come straight back at Villarreal, Goretzka stuck in by Lewandowski but foiled by a desperate challenge, then Coman dragging a shot wide of the near post.
62 min HAVE A LOOK! Neuer reinvents goalkeeping once again, coming out of his goal to play a pass into midfield, intercepted by Moreno! He’s just inside his own half, but it’s an empty net and Danjuma is much closer to goal, unmarked! But Moreno opts to shoot ... and the ball drifts just wide! What a chance that was! Villarreal could’ve finished this tie tonight!
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62 min And here are those Bayern changes, Goretzka and Sané replacing Muller and Gnabry.
61 min I love how Villarreal are playing here, defending superbly and racing forwards whenever they can.
59 min Coman wriggles goalwards and pokes through for Gnabry, but Muller stretches in front of him and is offside. Immediately, Villarreal counter, but we miss most of what happens watching a replay, returning to see Pedraza shoot wide.
58 min Villarreal send on Pedraza for Coquelin.
57 min Desperate brilliance from Davies! Villarreal race down the left, Estupinan playing a lovely one-two with Prejo and poking into space for Danjuma. He slides inside for Moreno, who thinks he’s going to score ... but sliding in out of nowhere, Davies blocks his turn inside the near post! This is very, very lively now.
56 min Davies feeds Gnabry, who’s much livelier this half, and he megs Foyth then nudges inside for Lewandowski, but Capoue is there to intercept.
55 min “I must confess, I was roaring on Villarreal (pop 50k) against the English team I have supported since I was 5 in the Europa League Final,” emails Niall O’Keefe. “Can you imagine the support the Villarreal People would get if they somehow make it to the final? It’s fun to stay ... go Villarreal.”
53 min OH MY ABSOLUTE COMPLETE AND UTTER DAYS! Lo Celso, who’s been superb now he’s not got Mourinho nausing him up, spreads to Moreno out on the right. He steps inside, has a look, and from just outside the box, swipes across the ball to send a wobbler screeching flat towards the far corner ... but it cracks the base of the post and bounces to safety! What an effort that was! How crucial might it be when this tie is over, next week?
51 min “I would like to know the types errors 5that Bayern are making on the pitch tonight,” says Taofick Adahou. “Are they giving away balls too cheaply?”
Not really. It’s more than they’re struggling to find space because Villarrreal are defending the width of the box superbly, and Bayern aren’t getting close enough together or moving the ball quickly enough to pick holes in their structure.
50 min Bayern look much better now, a lovely flick from Musiala allowing Muller to move out to Davies. He lays back to Gnabry, just inside the box, and his low shot whistles wide, with Muller missing his diverting touch by fibres – though he might’ve been offside.
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49 min At Turf Moor, Burnley have equalised; it’s now 2-2 in the relegation six-pointer.
48 min Kimmich and Muller combine to set Davies away down the left and for the first time in time – perhaps in the game – he’s in space. So he cuts in, opens the angle, and drags a poor shot past the near post.
47 min Goodness me! Benzema has completed his hat-trick, and Chelsea have conceded seven goals at home in their last 86 minutes of play!
46 min “Unai Emery at Arsenal,” begins Kári Tulinius. “I think Emery was undone at Arsenal because he was fighting the last war. Emery’s last season at PSG was a mess. He seemed semi-traumatised by La Remontada, and it didn’t help that the protagonist of that game, Neymar, was now making his life difficult in his own dressing room. So by the time he got to Arsenal, he was both tactically overcautious, and on a hair-trigger for the least bit of ego. Poor Özil got the brunt of both. By the time he got to Villarreal, he’d shaken that off.”
That’s an interesting angle, and if you couple it with the post-Wenger malaise, that’s a lot to get over.
46 min We go again, no changes.
Our players are back with us. What a second half is in prospect.
Half-time entertainment: is right here.
Half-time: Villarreal 1-0 Bayern Munich
That was a really engrossing half. Villarreal have been superb, Bayern have been poor.
45+1 min Danjuma finds space well, feeds Capoue, and his shot is deflected behind – for a corner that comes to nothing.
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45 min There’ll be two added minutes.
44 min Kimmich finds Muller down the right, in space and with time ... but his dinked cross is way behind Lewandowski, who I’d forgotten was playing. What a compliment that is to Villarreal.
43 min Kai Havertz has pulled a goal back for Chelsea; they now trail Madrid 2-1.
NO GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Bayern Munich
Moreno was offside in the buildup, so the goal is chalked off. But still, what a half from the Yellow Submarine.
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GOAL! Villarreal 2-0 Bayern Munich (Coquelin 41)
That is not a misprint! This was a colossal fluke, Coquelin crossing from the left only for the ball to sail over Neuer and inside the far side-netting, but don’t be deceived as the keeper was: it came after a lovely move from Villarreal, who move the ball beautifully from middle to left, thorugh Capoue, Parejo and Danjuma – they’ve earned this. Wow!
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39 min Bayern keep knocking it about, but don’t seem to have much clue about how they’re supposed to create.
37 min The other thing Bayern might consider is changing formation to 4-4-2. Two strikers, and suddenly it’s not so easy for Villarreal to clear crosses.
35 min Other hand, Goretza may have to wait, because at 1-0, Bayern will still be extremely confident of winning the tie. But removing Musiala for him, because that’s who it’d be, might leave them (even) more open in centrefield.
34 min If I was Nagelsmann – for avoidance of doubt, I’m not – I’d be sending Sane on at half-time to keep the width on the left. I know he’s played on right for Bayern, but against opposition like Villarreal, they need to make the pitch as wide as possible.
32 min Villarreal win a free-kick down the right and Parejo applies the outswinger, Torres glancing a header a few yards wide. The home side look as likely to score a second as the visitors do a first.
31 min I wonder why Emery failed at Arsenal. I guess he might’ve had more time, but I don’t think he could’ve complained about getting fired than he did. Ultimately, he inherited a poor squad without the money to repair it, and the best players at the club now are all kids, who weren’t ready when he was there.
30 min Gnabry and Lo Celso leap with feet up to contest a 50/50; the latter wears studs of the former on the instep, a real sair yin, but he’ll be fine.
29 min Now here come Villarreal, Lo Celso caressing a lovely ball left and over the top for Moreno with the outside of his boot. But there’s not quite enough on it so his mate has to wait for it, and Pavard nips in to concede the corner; it comes to nowt.
28 min Coman slides a clever ball down the side of the box for Muller, who we’ve barely seen tonight; he can only funnel it back, and eventually Hernandez loses patience, skewing a shot wide of the near post.
26 min Hernandez might’ve hurt his thigh stretching into a challenge, but that’s the least of Bayern’s worries. The question for Julian Nagelsmann is whether Villarreal are making his side look bad because that’s what they do, or whether he needs to change tactics, personnel, or both.
26 min Eeek, Benzema has done it again! The holders are in colossal trouble.
24 min There’s been a development at Stamford Bridge! Karim Benzema has put Madrid in front! I remember going to watch Man united in Lyon in 2008 and the locals regaling us with tales of how good he was; he duly scored a belter that night, and what a player he went on to become.
23 min Lewandowki holds up nicely then spreads to Davies, but his cross is headed away and Kimmich welts the loose ball wide.
22 min Albiol sees Gnabry coming, getting his body in front of the ball and wearing the frustrated foul. He’s improved so much under Emery.
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20 min Bayern are back bossing possession, but Villarreal move in such concert, that it’s hard to pick holes. They need to get in little clusters, then move the ball much quicker, but as I type that, Kimmich pumps another cross directly at Rulli.
18 min After a fair start, Bayern have done very little. They don’t have the rhythm they once did, and I’d not be surprised to see Goretzka sooner rather than later after half-time if they don’t smarten up.
16 min Bayern win a free-kick out on the left and Kimmich will curl it in, but directly into Rulli’s Uhlsports.
16 min Has anyone reworded this to be about Villarreal’s ground yet?
15 min he kick is flicked on, but straight to Neuer.
15 min Bayern are rattled, Pavard gulled into fouling Danjuma, who does well to get his body between man and ball. Parejo will swerve in the free-kick...
14 min Elsewhere, a second Richarlison penalty has put Everton in front at Burnley. Tim de Lisle has the latest.
12 min Ultimately, this is the thing with Bayern: they concede goals. Their defence is no worse than City’s, but they don’t keep the ball or foul tactically as well, so find themselves exposed more frequently. Obviously they could still beat anyone over two legs or in a final, but I couldn’t back them against Liverpool or City unless they changed the way they play.
11 min Not that long ago, Lo Celso was playing in the Conference League against Mura. It’s an hilarious old game, Saint.
10 min Here come Villarreal again, Capoue running through the centre and waiting for Moreno to find him, but he cannot. What a start to the tie!
GOAL! Villarreal 1-0 Bayern Munich (Danjuma 8)
He told you he was good! Villarreal move it nicely through midfield, Lo Celso carrying it and finding Moreno on the line, who plays him in behind. Lo Celso screeches after it, cuts back brilliantly with the outside of his left foot, and Parejo sweeps low, Danjuma redirecting his shot past Neuer from close range. This is better than Bournemouth!
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6 min Davies and Gbary double up, the former teeing up Musiala, whose shot is blocked at source. Already, Bayern are having a lot of joy down their left.
5 min Nice from Gnabry, skirting around Foyth, who scythes down the fresh air that passes as his man does. He cuts back seeking Musiala and Kimmich, but various defenders block them off, then Villarreal attempt a counter that comes to nowt.
4 min Bit of possession for Villarreal, at the end of Coquelin unable to loft a ball over the top for Lo Celso.
3 min I’ve a confession to make: I’ve always hated away goals, partly because my team has had grief with them but mainly because I think one goal must equal one other goal. And yet, I’m sort of missing the turbocharge they give proceedings, though I still think binning them was the right thing to do in terms of sporting integrity.
2 min Estupinan has to kick his way through Coman, then Parejo is penalised for fouling Kimmich. This has been a nervous start from Villarreal.
1 min Robbie Savage is in co-commentary, which seems baffling to me. What is his expertise as regards these teams? Anyhow, Coman goes on the outside of Estupinan, but can’t keep his feet.
1 min Away we go!
Oh look, Anthony Taylor is reffing, the only man in the world accused of supporting both Man United and Man City.
Here come the teams!
“Seeing Davies return is so long overdue and welcomed,” says Travis Giblin. I want the readers to look at his phenomenal solo effort goal from November. I CAN’T WAIT to see him play on the grandest stage of them all this winter!”
I love this goal – it’s a Solskjærian finish, which is the highest compliment I can give it, and the composure to pull it off after what came before is incredible.
On which point, here’s today’s Fiver, on Frank Lampard, privilege, and tonight’s matches.
It’s all going on at Turf Moor – Burnley took the lead, then Everton equalised.
Only football can do that to you. What an invention.
“Gosh, that was the wrong link,” returns Colin Greer. “This one truly tested his ticker.”
I’m looking forward to seeing how Lo Celso does in Spain. He looked so promising when he first got to Spurs, but a combination of injury and managerial nonsense made things difficult for him. He’s got an explosive talent – I hope he can realise it.
“Alphonso Davies may not have been playing for months but his heart was well tested over that time,” says Colin Greer, sharing a video that’s a precursor to the one I posted a few minutes ago.
Bayern haven’t defended that well this season – maybe that’s one reason Emery has gone 4-3-3 not 4-4-2. I’m sure the principal motivation is to try and get some midfield possession, but it also makes sense in terms of pinning Davies back, or getting in behind him, and two strikers pushed right up against two centre-backs might have made it easier for Upamecano and Hernandez to keep things tight.
BT just ran VT of an interview with Danjuma – he speaks really well, and has the confidence of someone who’s certain he’s got it. He reckons Emery will have a “masterplan”, and I’d not be surprised to see him in the Premier League before long. Jacob Steinberg spoke to him earlier this week.
There’s a lot going on tonight:
A week and a half later, this is still doing me in. Oh man, imagine that feeling.
Alphonso Davies’ reaction to Canada making the World Cup ❤️
— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 27, 2022
(via @onesoccer) pic.twitter.com/JgwATlU4X2
Bayern haven’t lost an away game in Europe since 2017 – that is rrrrrridiculous. The winning manager? Unai Emery at PSG.
Whenever I think of Gnabry, I think of Gnasher and his family.
Bayern, meanwhile: the main thing to note – and indeed to celebrate – is the return of the wonderful Alphonso Davies, who went from Covid to myocarditis. He makes such a difference to them, and has got to be one of the most knackering, demoralising left-backs to face. Otherwise, Goretzka is still feeling his way back so is on the bench, meaning Musiala starts, while on the wings, Coman and Gnabry start with Sane waiting on the bench.
Also worth noting: Villarreal have plenty on the bench, with Pino, Alcacer and Chukwueze all capable of changing things.
There’s a lot to take in here. To start with Villarreal, Danjuma is through the middle, with Lo Celso given the third attacking berth alongside Groenveld and Moreno. Behind them, Coquelin is picked to give ballast, allowing Parejo and Capoue to probe and prompt – usually, it’s a 4-4-2, but Emery has sacrificed a striker for a midfielder.
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Teams!
Villarreal (4-3-3): Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Pau Torres, Estupinan; Coquelin, Capoue, Parejo; Moreno, Groenveld, Lo Celso. Subs: Asenjo, Mario, Alcacer, Iborra, Chukwueze, Trigueros, Pena, Pino, Mandi, Gomez, Pedraza, Aurier.
Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Pavard, Upamecano, Hernandez, Davies; Kimmich, Musiala; Coman, Muller, Gnabry; Lewandowski. Subs: Richards, Sule, Goretzka, Sane, Wanner, Sabitzer, Roca, Kouassi, Ulreich, Fruchtl, Tillman, Stanisic.
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Preamble
If you live in England you might not know it, but we are here to confirm this match is indeed taking place – and it should be a goodun too.
Though Liverpool and Manchester City are favourites to win the latest edition of Big Ears, only a fool would discount Bayern Munich. Though Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski aren’t quite as good as they were when Bayern won the trophy the season before last, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are all better. Then, when to that, you add Leroy Sané along with the imminent return of Alphonso Davies, you have a hard night for any team, whoever they are.
Villarreal, though, do not make things easy for anyone. They are organised, tough, and have their fair share of flair – Arnaut Danjuma, Gerard Moreno, Samuel Chukwueze, Dani Parejo and Giovani Lo Celso are nobody’s mugs.
And having the first leg at home will help them just as it did against Juventus in the last 16: they can use the crowd to play their way into the tie, then sit in when they travel to Bavaria. On which point, Bayern’s inept performance away to Salzburg will not have been lost on them – though the 7-1 gubbing they followed it with won’t be either.
Kick-off: 9pm local, 8pm BST
