Champions League

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Champions League | Round-Of-16

Mar 11, 2014 at 7.45pm UK

Bayern Bayern Munich
1-1
Arsenal

Schweinsteiger (54')

FT(HT: 0-0)

Podolski (57')

Match Analysis: Bayern Munich 1-1 (3-1) Arsenal

By Matt Domm, Reporter | 11 March 2014

Sports Mole analyses the 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena that saw Bayern Munuch reach the Champions League quarter-finals against Arsenal.

Champions League holders Bayern Munich confirmed their spot in the quarter-finals with a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal, which put them through 3-1 on aggregate.

The first half was tight, with both sides restricted to only half-chances, but Bayern came out strongly in the second and went ahead through Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Arsenal pulled level just a few minutes later with a strike from former Bayern man Lukas Podolski, but the hosts managed to calm the game down and qualify despite Lukasz Fabianski saving a late Thomas Muller penalty.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look at the action to see whether the correct side went through.

Match statistics

Bayern
Shots: 14
On target: 9
Possession: 64%
Corners: 6
Fouls: 14

Arsenal
Shots: 8
On target: 5
Possession: 36%
Corners: 5
Fouls: 14

Was the result fair?

The draw was definitely the right result on the night, and the better side did get through as well over the two legs. Arsenal were strong at the back and pressed well in the midfield, but even so the hosts still managed to create chances, particularly in the second half. Although the away side conceded a lot of possession they were threatening on the break, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain key to their respectable draw on the night.

Bayern's performance

It was not quite what the football world has become used to from Pep Guardiola's side, but still they were calm on the ball, hard-working off it and dangerous in wide areas. Bastian Schweinsteiger was absolutely vital at both ends of the pitch - he won the midfield battle against Arsenal's attacking players and, with Thiago Alcantara filling in well, bombed forward at the right time, which showed with the goal that he scored. Bayern had another gear, but with the lead from the first leg were happy to play at a slow pace.

Arsenal's performance

Arsene Wenger set up his side with a good blend of attack and defence. He had Thomas Vermaelen at left-back, which allowed Chamberlain, initially deployed in deep midfield, to become his side's dangerman on the break. Overall it was a better defensive performance than an attacking one from Arsenal as they did not create enough for a team already 2-0 down, but there was no shame at all in their performance as they remain unbeaten in Munich in their last two trips there.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Bastian Schweinsteiger: Without their vice-captain on the night, Bayern might well have struggled in the midfield more than they did. It was a clever decision from Guardiola to push Philipp Lahm to right-back for Schweinsteiger to hold and he was the key man to recycle the ball and offer support to the attack. His goal came from a typical burst forward and he was always looking for the ball after finding space. A top performance.

Biggest gaffe

This has to go to Arjen Robben for the frankly embarrassing dive under no contact from Santi Cazorla. He had done well to skin to players in the box, but threw himself to the floor with the referee rightly waving play on. He really should have been booked for his antics, but escaped the punishment he would have deserved.

Referee performance

Svein Oddvar Moen will have better nights refereeing. Not only did he fail to book Robben for his blatant dive, but he allowed Arsenal's goal to stand when it really should not have done. Podolski gave Lahm a hearty push in the back before firing in from an angle, and play should have been called back for the initial infringement. As well as this, he was a bit keen early on to go to his pocket, which meant that he did not give yellows later on for fouls that were perhaps more worthy.

What next?

Bayern: The runaway Bundesliga leaders will be looking to make it 17 wins on the bounce in the league as they host out-of-form Bayer Leverkusen. If results go their way they could be 23 points ahead.

Arsenal: The Gunners have the mere challenge of the North London derby on Sunday, as they travel to White Hart Lane to take on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.