Champions League Awards: Instant classics and Guler’s Golazo | OneFootball

Our Champions League Awards celebrate the best – and worst – of this week’s quarter-final action, featuring an instant classic between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Moment of the Week

Could you get a better advert for the Champions League than this? Bayern Munich against Real Madrid was everything it was billed up to be – and more. Two titans of the European game went head-to-head in an absolute classic at the Allianz Arena.

Real Madrid levelled the tie after only 35 seconds in Germany, the first of five first-half goals in a chaotic end-to-end game. The pace slowed somewhat after the break, but there was still time for a dramatic conclusion.

First, Eduardo Camavinga was sent off with four minutes left for time-wasting, and Bayern took advantage to score twice late on and progress.

Luis Diaz’s delightful goal decided the tie, before a magic Michael Olise finish put the cherry on the cake.

Just a fantastic game of top-tier football and a pleasure to watch. Bayern march on to a mouth-watering semi-final against PSG.

Player of the Week

Joshua Kimmich led Bayern Munich’s passage to the semi-finals with the German side’s general leading by example.

It was Kimmich’s dangerous delivery which created the equaliser for Aleksandar Pavlovic and the youngster could not miss from close range. Pavlovic’s goal was a massive moment after the shock of Real Madrid’s early opener.

Kimmich’s assist was one of four chances created by the midfielder, while he was vital defensively with four tackles won and 100% success in his defensive duels (5/5). An all-action performance at the heart of midfield.

Goal of the Week

It’s hard to pivot away from the brilliance of Bayern vs Real Madrid and we’re not about to start here.

Arda Guler earns the Goal of the Week award, for this fantastic free-kick at the Allianz Arena. The Turkish midfielder led the charge for a potential remontada for Real, scoring the quick-fire opener and a truly special second.

Save of the Week

Liverpool huffed and puffed in an attempt to get back into their tie against PSG, but were unable to find a route past the Parisian defence.

Is it any wonder with defensive commitment like this? With the game goalless, Marquinhos made this incredible block to stop a certain goal. The chance was given an xG figure of 0.84, but the PSG captain was on hand to deny Virgil van Dijk a tap-in.

Stat of the Week

Arsenal are through to the semi-finals for the second straight season, and credit to them for that achievement.

However, the club’s snoozefest against Sporting was hardly the statement result most wanted after their recent blip. Massive improvements are needed ahead of this weekend’s crunch clash at Manchester City.

A week to forget for…

Manuel Neuer. Bayern’s win has ensured the German great’s gaffes this week did not prove costly, but Neuer was almost responsible for his side’s collapse.

After his heroics in Madrid last week, the veteran had a nightmare in the return, gifting Real Madrid their early opener and failing to deal with Arda Guler’s free-kick from distance. A rare off-night for the Bayern captain.

Read – Arteta ready for ‘magical’ semi-final as Arsenal make history

See more – Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid: Five classic past meetings

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