1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
Live TV
Latest audioLatest videos
In focus
US election 2024Russia's war in UkraineIsrael-Hamas

Bayern through to CL semi

April 3, 2012

Bayern Munich made it look easy in their 2-0 Champions League quarterfinal win over Olympique Marseille, advancing to a likely semifinal matchup with Real Madrid.

https://p.dw.com/p/14XJG
Munich's scorer Ivica Olic (L) and coach Jupp Heynckes celebrate the 1-0 goal
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Call it déjà vu, but there was very little to distinguish Bayern Munich's 2-0 second leg win at home against Olympique Marseille on Tuesday from last week's first leg match in France.

Bayern were clearly the better team in both contests, creating chances and moving the ball well, while Marseille never seemed to find their footing. Even the score of last week's match was the same: a 2-0 Bayern victory.

The only difference is that Bayern had Tuesday's game wrapped up a little earlier, heading into halftime already two goals up on Marseille. Ivica Olic had both goals, one in the 13th minute and one in the 37th, thanks to assists from Franck Ribery and David Alaba.

That meant Bayern couch Jupp Heynckes could turn his attention to the next round before the end of the first half, subbing starter Thomas Müller two minutes after Olic's last goal. Müller had two yellow cards carried over and another would earn him a suspension for Bayern's next game in Europe.

Saved by Neuer

Marseille was not without chances to score but were stopped by two particularly good saves from Bayern's last line of defense.

"Manuel Neuer saved us a few times in the first half," said Heynckes after the match. "But we came back and in the end deserved the win."

Ivica Olic scores
Olic had both goals for BayernImage: picture-alliance/augenklick/GES

Bayern will face the winner of the other quarterfinal between Real Madrid and Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia, with the second leg of that matchup taking place Wednesday night in Madrid. Real Madrid won the first leg 3-0.

Football fans across Europe are licking their chops at the likely semifinal pairing of Real and Bayern, including German national team coach Joachim Löw.

"That is a big deal for every friend of the game," he said after the game, which he watched from the stands.

Messi's record

Defending champions Barcelona also advanced to the semifinal on Tuesday evening, beating AC Milan 3-1 in Barcelona. Barcelona's Lionel Messi had two penalties, which gave him 50 career goals in the Champions League as well as the single-season Champions League scoring record of 14.

Lionel Messi
Messi continued his tear through the Champions LeagueImage: picture-alliance/dpa

Barcelona will face the winner of Wednesday night's other quarterfinal between Chelsea and Benfica, with the English side leading 1-0 on aggregate after the first leg in Lisbon.

The first-leg semifinal matches will take place on April 17 and 18, with the second leg on April 24 and 25.

mz/av (SID,dpa)