Bayern pick up the pieces after ‘bitter’ Champions League defeat

(L-R) Bayern Munich’s German forward Thomas Mueller, Bayern Munich’s Polish forward Robert Lewandowski and Bayern Munich’s French defender Dayot Upamecano react after the UEFA Champions League quarter-final, second leg football match FC Bayern Munich v FC Villarreal in Munich, southern Germany on April 12, 2022. (Photo by Jose Jordan / AFP)

There were 70,000 at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday, but you could have heard a pin drop among home Bayern Munich fans when Villarreal equalised with two minutes left to dump the Germans out of the Champions League.

When they were paired with Spanish side Villarreal in last month’s quarter-finals draw, Bayern sports director Hasan Salihamidzic chuckled gleefully, “It’s very manageable”.

Yet it was Villarreal coach Unai Emery left leaping with joy on the sidelines in Munich after Samuel Chukwueze chipped in with two minutes left to snatch a 1-1 second leg draw and seal a 2-1 aggregate win.

The Villarreal squad celebrated in front of their delirious travelling fans, while stunned Bayern supporters trudged home leaving their team to process a shock elimination.

‘Extreme’ disappointment The Germans dominated for long stretches of Tuesday’s home leg and were rewarded when Robert Lewandowski gave them a second-half lead before Villarreal converted their only clear chance.

Thomas Mueller, usually a bubbly chatterbox, struggled to find the words to sum up the disappointment.

“It’s extreme,” he admitted, having blown a golden chance after heading agonisingly wide with 19 minutes left.

“Maybe we must blame ourselves for needing to get one more goal.”

Chukwueze’s equaliser put the over-joyed Spaniards in the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 16 years.

“It’s very bitter. The semi-finals