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Rediff.com  » Sports » PHOTOS: How Bayern reached fifth Champions League semis in a row

PHOTOS: How Bayern reached fifth Champions League semis in a row

April 14, 2016 07:56 IST
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Bayern Munich

IMAGE: FC Bayern Muenchen’s David Alaba and Manuel Neuer celebrate he victory at the end of the Champions league quarter-final second leg match against SL Benfica. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Images.

Bayern Munich booked their fifth successive Champions League semi-final spot with a 2-2 draw at Benfica on Wednesday to seal a 3-2 aggregate victory that kept the Germans on course for a treble of titles.

Arturo Vidal's 38th-minute goal cancelled out the hosts' early lead through Raul Jimenez's header and Thomas Mueller's volley early in the second half eased their nerves.

The Portuguese side, vying for their first semi-final in more than a quarter of a century, managed a late equaliser through Talisca but still suffered their fourth elimination in their fourth European tie against Bayern.

Bayern are also top of the Bundesliga, seven points clear with five matches left and still in the German Cup.

The Bavarians will face Real Madrid, city rivals Atletico, who eliminated holders Barcelona, or England's Manchester City in the last four.

The Bavarians, chasing a treble of titles, fell a goal down midway through the first half despite controlling the game and having 70 percent possession at that stage.

"There have been occasions in the past when we lost our heads after conceding a goal," Thomas Mueller, who scored Bayern' second goal early in the second half, said.

"But that did not happen tonight. We remained calm and kept controlling the game throughout."

Bayern Munich

IMAGE: FC Bayern Muenchen players celebrate after scoring there 1st goal during the Champions league. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Images.

"It was a sensational atmosphere but it was hard work," said Bayern captain Philipp Lahm, who played his 103rd Champions League game to become joint leader in Germany along with former Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn.

"We had to be more precise than in the first game, close the spaces between midfield and defence and we did it better tonight. We remained calm after the goal and worked hard," said Lahm.

Benfica were without top strikers Jonas, Gaitan and Kostas Mitroglou through suspension or injury and were quickly on the back foot as expected with the Germans controlling 70 percent of possession.

Mueller had the Germans' first good chance but fired wide after 15 minutes with Benfica's double backline working extremely hard.

"That double line was sometimes even three lines. They were a very difficult opponent," said Bayern coach Guardiola.

The hosts struck following a quick break when Eliseu found space to cross from the left and Jimenez charged past two defenders to score with a flying header.

The Mexican went close to adding another but Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer did well to parry his shot.

The Bavarians looked briefly rattled by the setback but quickly recovered when Vidal, who scored the winner in the first leg, drilled in the equaliser after perfectly timing his shot from keeper Ederson's clearance.

Guardiola had surprisingly kept top scorer Robert Lewandowski on the bench and Mueller took over his role, slipping in like a natural centre forward and volleying in a Martinez assist.

Benfica players

IMAGE: SL Benfica players celebrate the first goal against FC Bayern Muenchen. Photograph: Octavio Passos/Getty Images.

Bayern, also chasing a record fourth straight Bundesliga crown as well as the German Cup, did not let up and Douglas Costa' powerful shot hit the post on the hour.

Martinez was lucky not to be sent off for a last-man foul and Benfica coach Rui Vitoria was sent to the stands over the referee's decision to book the Spaniard.

But Talisca gave him something to smile about, curling the resulting free kick past Neuer to cap a battling performance against the German giants.

Bayern won the first leg against Benfica in Munich 1-0 and went into the game as favourites to advance.

Instead they looked close to losing control after Benfica's Raul Jimenez put the hosts ahead in the 27th to level the tie.

The Mexican came agonisingly close to a second goal as Bayern stuttered and 60,000 fans roared on the hosts in an electric atmosphere.

"We had an opportunity to make it 2-0, but football is like this," Jimenez said. "We managed to level the tie and we are happy with what we have achieved because we showed we can compete with any team."

The Germans, eyeing a sixth European crown, pulled themselves together and goals from Arturo Vidal and Mueller put them in the driving seat.

"We fought until the end, so I have to congratulate my players and these amazing supporters," said the Portuguese coach.

"We faced a very powerful team that knows how to dictate the pace of the game. We promised we would go eye to eye with Bayern and we did so."

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