Football | Bayern comes from behind to advance in Champions League

Bayern’s Thomas Mueller (center), celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League, round of 16, first-leg soccer match

Thomas Mueller equalized in the first minute of injury time and Bayern Munich scored two more goals in extra time to complete a thrilling 4-2 victory over Juventus yesterday that sent the German powerhouse into the Champions League quarterfinals.
Thiago Alcantara scored in the 108th minute to put Bayern ahead for good in the second leg match of the last 16 and Kingsley Coman, on loan from Juventus, added the hosts’ fourth goal just two minutes later to seal a 6-4 victory on aggregate.
Bayern trailed 2-0 at halftime after goals from Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado put Juventus firmly in charge. The home side looked to be on the way out until Robert Lewandowski scored in the 73rd and Mueller’s late header changed everything.
“To score four goals against an Italian side, wow, compliments to my team,” Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said.
The match, at least in regulation time, was nearly a replica of the first leg in Turin, where Bayern dominated and led 2-0 before Juventus struck back with two late goals to salvage a draw.
Juventus, last season’s runner-
up, produced a clever tactical display, defending smartly and relying on dangerous counterattacks. And it was seconds away from success.
“It’s disappointing, because we were so close,” Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri said.
Guardiola’s team, a five-time winner, is in its fifth straight quarterfinal.
“After our first goal, we saw that Juventus was not counterattacking any more. It’s that German mentality to try until the end,” Guardiola said.
In the other match, Barcelona’s big three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all scored to beat Arsenal 3-1, sending the defending champions into the Champions League quarterfinals for a ninth consecutive season with a 5-1 victory on aggregate.
With Bayern besieging the Italians’ goal, Douglas Costa sent a cross from the right corner and Lewandowski headed home at the far post from close range to put Bayern back into the match.
Bayern’s perseverance paid off in the first minute of added time. Patrice Evra lost the ball near the penalty area and Coman crossed to the far post for Mueller to head home and send the 71,000 at the Allianz arena into frenzied celebrations.
Alcantara, a substitute in extra time for Franck Ribery, swapped passes and beat Neuer, before Coman, also a substitute, made sure of victory by curling a shot past Gianluigi Buffon.
Juventus may have taken Bayern by surprise with its pressing deep inside Bayern’s half from the opening whistle and the Italian side got its dividend early when Pogba scored his first Champions League goal since November 2014.
Sami Khedira sent a long ball down the right and David Alaba missed his clearance attempt. With Manuel Neuer also mistiming his exit from the goal, Stephan Liechtensteiner was able to square the ball to Pogba, who slotted home from the edge of the penalty area into the empty net.
Juventus pulled back a little after the goal, but always looked dangerous and doubled the lead in the 28th after a great run by Morata.
The forward picked up the ball in his half and slalomed past four defenders before passing to Cuadrado, who fired inside the near post over Neuer.
Buffon parried an effort from Mueller in the 42nd and the attempted clearance by the Juventus defense bounced off Lewandowski and flew just wide.
Immediately after, Neuer did well to save a close-range shot by Cuadrado.
Juventus had former Bayern forward Mario Mandzukic on the bench, while Bayern was without winger Arjen Robben because of a groin problem.
The Italians were already without midfielder Claudio Marchisio, defender Giorgio Chiellini and striker Paulo Dybala, all injured.
Morata had two chances early in the second half after counterattacks but finished poorly. Mandzukic came in for Morata in the 71st but Juventus missed Morata’s speed.
Today’s draw will feature Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Benfica, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Wolfsburg. Teams from the same country can be drawn together. AP