Bayern Munich progress past Real Madrid after seven-goal classic
HEY JUDE: Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham reacts during their loss in Munich. Pic: Tom Weller/dpa via AP.
HARRY Kane's 50th club goal of the season helped Bayern Munich edge past 10-man Real Madrid in a Champions League tie for the ages which almost defied description.
The two European heavyweights traded punches in an enthralling contest, fighting each other almost to a standstill, until Luis Diaz delivered the knockout blow a minute from time with a stunning 20-yard effort into the top corner to leave the Spanish giants without major silverware for back-to-back seasons.
Real led three times on the night, but were ultimately undone by substitute Eduardo Camavinga needlessly earning a second yellow card five minutes from time for brainlessly delaying a restart as the hosts progressed to face PSG in the last four.
Bayern's 2-1 aggregate first-leg advantage evaporated in stunning style inside the opening 35 seconds of an utterly crazy first-half courtesy of the fastest Champions League goal this season.
It came gift-wrapped from Manuel Neuer, who shanked a clearance from a routine back-pass straight to Arda Guler. The Turkey international returned it with interest from 30 yards with a sweetly-struck first-time left-foot finish which sailed over the hapless Bayern keeper and into an empty net.
Parity in the tie lasted five minutes as the hosts levelled on the night thanks to another goalkeeping howler. An in-swinging corner from Joshua Kimmich should have provided a regulation catch for Andriy Lunin, who was deputising for the injured Thibaut Courtois.
Instead, the Ukrainian international, displaying the physical presence of a gnat, inexplicably melted away from the ball to allow Aleksandar Pavlovic to head into an unguarded net from virtually under the crossbar.
In a breathless opening, Kylian Mbappe should have scored when he was put through on goal by a Vinicius Junior pass, but delayed momentarily to allow full-back Konrad Laimer to make a goal-saving block.
Guler capped a decent half hour's work when the midfielder restored Real's lead with a curling 25-yard free-kick into the top corner - although Neuer should have kept the effort out after getting a hand to the ball as it found the net.
Real unwisely afforded Kane the freedom of their penalty area as Bayern levelled for a second time seven minutes before the break, the England skipper passing the ball into the bottom corner from 10 yards after controlling Dayot Upamecano's low pass into the box.
There was still time before the break for Real to re-take the lead and level the tie as Mbappe provided a calm close-range finish under Neuer from a Vinicius Junior pass at the culmination of a stunning 70-yard counter-attack.
The incessant goalmouth action continued in the second half as Neuer produced a stunning save to keep out Mbappe's far post volley from Trent Alexander-Arnold's raking cross.
Vinicius came up with an untimely air shot after more wonderful trickery from Mbappe and just as extra-time beckoned, former Liverpool favourite Diaz stepped up to settle an unforgettable night in suitably spectacular style before Michael Olise put the icing on the cake with a stunning fourth in stoppage time.
Neuer; Stanisic 5 (Davies 46), Upamecano, Tah, Laimer; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Gnabry (Musiala 61), Diaz; Kane.
Lunin; Alexander-Arnold (Thiago 90), Eder Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Bellingham, Valverde, Guler (Mastantuono 90 ), Diaz (Camavinga 62); Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.
Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
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