FC Bayern hosted Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. It was a real test of mettle for the record champions.
Bayern wanted to make a statement, especially to their European rivals. But just when they needed it most, their roster let them down. Joshua Kimmich, Michael Olise, and Jamal Musiala were all out for various reasons. Luis Diaz wasn’t fit enough for the starting lineup, as Vincent Kompany explained ahead of the match.
It was the intense match everyone expected in Munich. In the end, the two teams drew 2–2.
Davies equalizes after Arsenal takes the lead
The game began with a period of feeling each other out. Arsenal wanted possession and built up play in a controlled manner. Bayern tried to press at times, but with this lineup, they didn’t consistently apply one-on-one pressure across the entire field. Five minutes in, Arsenal made their first foray into Bayern’s penalty area, but couldn’t get a shot off. Shortly afterward, Arsenal suffered their first setback when Bukayo Saka was injured and had to be substituted.
It was a rough game from the start, with Kai Havertz picking up an early yellow card. There were no major scoring chances in the opening phase; both teams sized each other up and didn’t take too many risks. Arsenal posed their first real threat off a corner kick. Twenty minutes had passed when Bayern quickly transitioned on the counter, with Ismael Saibari ultimately setting up Serge Gnabry, who was denied by David Raya.
In the 25th minute, Eberechi Eze, who had come on for Saka, put Arsenal ahead. Josip Stanišić lured the offside trap after a fantastic pass from Ödegaard; Eze controlled the ball well and slotted it into the far corner. But Bayern responded. A good ten minutes after falling behind, Harry Kane played a sensational pass to Alphonso Davies, who finished with his right foot and coolly equalized.
After that, Bayern looked a bit livelier and made several quick transitions, but a second goal didn’t materialize. The teams went into halftime tied 1–1.
Bayern turns the game around, Arsenal strikes back
Arsenal had the first good chance right after the break. Following a corner kick, Bayern got lucky. Manuel Neuer tipped a header by Bruno Guimarães onto the crossbar. After that, Bayern failed to capitalize on a promising counterattack. In the 50th minute, Dayot Upamecano nearly made it 2–1. After a sensational and dynamic burst of speed, he broke through, received a pass from Kane, and saw his beautiful header saved by Raya.
Bayern were now wide awake. A shot by Kane was blocked by Jurriën Timber’s hand, resulting in a penalty kick for the record champions. Kane didn’t miss this opportunity and fired the ball into the top left corner to make it 2–1. The game became more back-and-forth after that; Arsenal had chances off set pieces, while Bayern switched gears quickly.
In the 77th minute, substitute Luis Diaz tested goalkeeper Raya with a curling shot. But Arsenal now took even more risks. A nice combination play put Declan Rice in a good scoring position, and the Englishman fired the ball into the far corner from close range. Neuer was helpless; Arsenal had equalized. In the closing minutes, an injured Luis Diaz had to leave the field, and neither side managed to see the game through to the end. The score remained 2–2.