Twitter erupts as Villarreal stun Bayern Munich to secure Champions League semi-final berth
Villarreal accomplished the unthinkable by knocking Bayern Munich out of the Champions League quarter-finals at the Allianz Arena in one of the biggest underdog victories of the tournament. Unai Emery set up his team to defend sustained possession spells from the opposition and the game plan worked exactly the way he wanted.
The Bavarians had 65 per cent possession throughout the 90 minutes but were unable to create clear cut chances and when chances fell their way, they failed to capitalize. They took a total of 24 shots on the night compared to Villarreal's 4, but were nowhere near efficient with only 12 on target compared to the opposition's three.
The first half ended goalless but Bayern Munich could have had for themselves an even bigger mountain to climb as Emery's side got some great chances in the final moments of the first half. Arnaut Danjuma ran through behind the Bavarian defense but blasted his shot wide of the post, although he would have been offside anyway.
Later, it was Gerard Moreno who hit the crossbar from an acute angle. Julian Nagelsmann's side tried to make the wide areas the hotspots of their attack in the first half and played little through the center, between the defensive lines.
Robert Lewandowski bags a consolation goal as Bayern Munich get knocked out by Villarreal
In the second half, the German giants returned with greater purpose and changed tactics determined to make their efforts count. It was their prolific marksman Robert Lewandowski who gave them the hopes of a turnaround in the 54th minute as his strike found the bottom right hand corner.
With this, he became the fifth player in the tournament to score against 30 different teams.
However, Villarreal defended resiliently for the rest of the half and weathered the storm to wait for their chance. With injury time approaching in the dying minutes, substitute Samuel Chukwueze made the most of the counter-attack as he beat Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer to end the German side's hopes of making it to the semi-finals.
With that, the game ended in a 1-1 draw in Germany and the Spanish side's home win in the first leg saw them progress 2-1 on aggregate.
Fans on social media went bonkers after they witnessed what was one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history. Here are some of the best reactions:
Julian Nagelsmann, come out! Fire chop your yansh.
Emery beating Bayern as revenge for Arsenal is true futbol heritage #BAYVIL
Perez still wants the Super League after this amazing matchday
Bayern comeback vs Villareal
Chelsea comeback vs Real
Bayern Munich? More like BYE-yern Munich https://t.co/MxdywjI5xj
The population of Vila-real is less than the capacity of the Allianz Arena.
@FCBayernEN Farmers league confirmed
Unai Emery is planning his trip to Anfield with a big dossier of all the times people in England made fun of his accent.
Unai Emery and Diego Simeone are from same parents. Haram football.
I'm still hopeful about Nagelsmann tbh.
He is working with a big club for the first time and I believe next season will be different. He'll learn
Alphonso Davies has been busy slandering Maguire he forgot how to defend. And now Bayern in the mud!!
#BAYVIL #UCL
I blame Nagelsmann. The tactics, the substitutions, everything.
Oh my days. Nagelsmann is clueless I swear. #FCBVCF
Villarreal should’ve had this won multiple times. So many opportunities to kill it in the first leg and even a few chances in the second. Will be unlucky if they don’t go through.
(I am ready to obliterate Bayern again, as a Liverpool fan.) #BAYVIL
Villarreal really milking this, Mourinho vibes with this squad
Bayern in the mud 😂😂
Bayern making a meal of this. Whoever goes through, Liverpool will be big favourites (providing they don't somehow get knocked out by Benfica..)
I cant stop laughing when i see coman play Football, he trying so hard to look like Neymar or something but hes just not good
Unai Emery is a better manager now than he ever was at Arsenal. If he had his time again, I’ve got no doubt that it would end differently.
Alphonso Davies isnt in the starting eleven and Sane is RW. We wanted Nagelsmann to be a Pep successor once... https://t.co/XBhQ521Ptl
Dayot Upamecano monsterclass.
#FCBVCF
Nagelsmann‘s half time speech better sounded like this https://t.co/sxy6rl5LN8