Bayern Munich were stunned by Villarreal and for the third time in four years the once-mighty Bavarians have failed to advance beyond the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Bayern exited the Champions League in dramatic fashion as they conceded a last-gasp equaliser to Villarreal for the Yellow Submarine to advance to the UCL semifinals with a 2-1 aggregate score.
Unai Emery’s team ran out 1-0 winners in the first leg before escaping Munich with a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, which was enough to see the Spanish side through to the last-4 of Europe’s primary club competition for just a second time in their history.
🥳 16 years between Villarreal’s appearances in the Champions League semi-finals!#UCL pic.twitter.com/VkLixv15XJ
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 12, 2022
Bayern may be closing in on a 10th consecutive league title, but they still have mountains to climb if they are to once again be considered a true force to be reckoned with on the continental stage. The Bundesliga has become a cake walk for Bayern over the last decade but head coach Julian Nagelsmann has his work cut out if he is to see Die Roten climb up the European ladder.
Six-time European champions Bayern were the overwhelming favourites to qualify for a 13th Champions League semifinal, but Villarreal proved that just about anything can happen in football. Bayern made five successive UCL semis from 2012 to 2016 but have reached the final four just twice in six seasons since.
In three straight seasons from 2016/17 through to 2018/19 Bayern were dumped out of Europe by the eventual winners. They lost to Real Madrid in the 16/17 quarters and again fell to Los Blancos in the semis the following season, before they were beaten by Liverpool in the Round of 16 in 2019. After beating Paris St-Germain in the 2020 Final, the Parisians avenged their victors by eliminating Bayern on away goals in the quarter-finals last year.
Up until the end of last season, Bayern still had five players which started for them in the UCL Final against Borussia Dortmund nine years ago. David Alaba, Jérôme Boateng and Javi Martinez all departed Bavaria last summer, leaving Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller as the last remaining members of the class of 2013.
Bayern will need at least one marquee signing in the upcoming summer if they are to reinstate themselves as a credible European powerhouse, and even more so if they are to bid farewell to their star striker. Robert Lewandowski has been heavily linked with a transfer to FC Barcelona and needless to say the Polish centre-forward would leave a massive void in the Bayern setup should he opt for a move away from Germany.
In the event Lewandowski departs, Bayern could go all out for Dortmund striker Erling Haaland who is believed to be seeking a fresh start ahead of next season. It would come as no surprise if Bayern lure Haaland, 21, given the numerous top prospects they have poached from their Klassiker rivals. Mario Götze and Mats Hummels both returned to Dortmund after three years as Bayern players.
Bayern are set to raid Ajax Amsterdam for two of their most important players in Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and Moroccan right-back Noussair Mazraoui. Gravenberch, 19, has one year remaining on his existing deal and is reluctant to extend with the Dutch club, while 24-year-old Mazraoui is out of contract at the end of June.
Bayern are set to reach verbal agreement on personal terms with Gravenberch on a five year contract while they’re working to complete the deal with Ajax, still discussing about the fee 🔴 #FCBayern
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 12, 2022
Mazraoui is also close to join Bayern. Raiola is on it as agent of both players. pic.twitter.com/kVqHBKZi90
