Munich: Defending champion Bayern Munich drew 1-1 with Arsenal to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win from their round-of-16 tie on Tuesday. Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger finished coolly from Franck Ribery's cross to put the home side in a commanding position in the 55th minute.
Lukas Podolski responded within two minutes against his former side by dispossessing Philipp Lahm in the penalty area and smashing the ball past Manuel Neuer to the roof of the net from an acute angle. The goals breathed life into a game that Bayern mostly dominated. Nerves gripped the home side - perhaps as a result of the 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal at the same stage last season - but they didn't last long.
Thomas Mueller had the chance to make it 2-1 after Arjen Robben went down under Laurent Koscielny's challenge, but Lukasz Fabianski saved his penalty on the line in injury time. Arsenal needed at least two goals but barely threatened in the first half. The home side enjoyed the lion's share of possession and worked quickly to recover the ball after losing it.
Dante earned a yellow card for taking down Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a counterattack in the eighth. The Arsenal midfielder would have been through on goal, and Dante will now miss Bayern's next match. Podolski forced a corner on another rare break. It was no trouble for the Bayern defense. The former Bayern forward was later booked for kicking the ball away in frustration.
Javi Martinez thought he scored with a flick on from the resultant free kick but it was ruled offside. Arsenal were living on scraps. Oliver Giroud came closest with a header from a corner. Neuer caught it easily.
The best chances fell to Arjen Robben at the other end. The Dutchman mishit Franck Ribery's floated cross and sent the ball over from 10 meters in the 20th, and should have scored again in the 38th, when Laurent Koscielny blocked his shot with the goalkeeper stranded.
Mario Mandzukic headed over shortly afterward, and Mario Goetze tested Lukasz Fabianski with a volley from short range before the break. It seemed just a matter of time before Bayern made the breakthrough. Ribery surged through on the left and found the ideally placed Schweinsteiger to open the scoring.
Podolski gave the visitors some hope but it was always going to be a struggle.
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