Bayern rally against Sevilla to take slim advantage back to Munich

Anna Woodberry 6 years ago 1.9k |

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Thiago scored the winner for Bayern in Seville. AFP

Bayern Munich fought back to secure a 2-1 victory over Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash to put one foot in the semi-final.

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Playoffs. Quarter-finals

Many expected a cagey first fixture between the two European sides as they fight for a place in the next round of the prestigious club competition. However, that was far from the case in the opening half as both teams went on the attack looking to break the deadlock.

Thomas Muller's long-range effort went wide of the post before Pablo Sarabia came closet after pulling his curling effort inches from the target. Nonetheless, it would be the home side who would find the breakthrough and through Sarabia too.

In the 31st minute, Sergio Escudero broke free down the left wing and whipped in a cross to the far post, finding Sarabia who controlled the ball sublimely before dancing past a Bayern defender and firing his shot past Sven Ulreich and into the back of the net.

Sevilla's lead would last just six minutes though as Bayern fought back through Franck Ribery and a bit of bad luck for Vincenzo Montella's team.

James Rodriguez, who had just been brought on to replace an injured Arturo Vidal, cheekily played through a rushing Ribery in the left-side of the box.

The Frenchman went to cross the ball across the face of goal but it took a decisive deflection off Navas which wrong-footed the Sevilla goalkeeper David Soria, who then couldn't stop it from rolling into the back of the net.

April 3, 2018

It meant that both sides went into the break level but Bayern's quality would prove decisive late into the second half as they exerted control over the tie.

Soria was called into action for Sevilla to deny a emphatic shot from Javi Martinez but he couldn't prevent their second attempt minutes later.

Again Ribery was instrumental as a picked out Thiago Alcantara at the far post who headed the ball into the ground and into the back of the net to silence the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Despite Sevilla's best efforts through a long-range effort from Steven N'zonzi and a fine save by Ulreich, they couldn't find an equaliser at the death and now face the difficult task of having to overturn an away-goal deficit in Munich next week.

As for Bayern, head coach Jupp Heynckes will be delighted with how his team rallied back from the early goal to come out on top in Seville, especially given how many problems the home side have caused their opposition in recent fixtures.

The tie is far from over but the Bavarian club are no doubt in the driving seat going into the return leg at the Allianz Arena on April 11.