By Frank Kamuntu
Manchester City and Arsenal have been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage after losing to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.
Holders City were beaten 4-3 on penalties at Etihad Stadium after they had battled back from 1-0 down on the night to draw 4-4 on aggregate, as their hopes of a second successive treble were ended.
Meanwhile, Arsenal lost 3-2 on aggregate, with Bayern earning a 1-0 win thanks to a 63rd minute header from Joshua Kimmich to book the Germans place in the last four.
The results mean there will be no English club in the semi-finals for the first time since 2020, and only the second time since 2017.
How Man City’s Match Unfolded
Following a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg, Real, who have won the Champions League a record 14 times, took a 12th minute lead through Rodrygo, but it was City who dominated much of the match from thereafter.
Despite this, they struggled to find their breakthrough until the 76th minute when Kevin De Bruyne finished from close-range to take the match into extra-time.
With nothing to separate the two teams, penalties were required to do so and Luka Modric missed Real’s first spot-kick, but so too did Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic for City. The decisive effort came from former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger to set up a meeting with Bayern in the semis.
Next up for Man City is a FA Cup semi-final meeting at Wembley Stadium with Chelsea on Saturday, kicking off at 17:15 BST.
How Arsenal’s Match Unfolded
After a 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium last week, there were few clear-cut chances in the first half at Allianz Arena, but David Raya did have to be alert to keep out a long-range effort from Jamal Musiala.
Bayern started quickly after the break and struck the woodwork twice in quick succession, first through Leon Goretzka’s header and then Raphael Guerreiro’s follow-up hit a post.
The hosts stepped up the pressure and were rewarded with what would be the only goal of the match, as Kimmich powered in a header from Guerreiro’s cross.
Arsenal were unable to find a response, as they missed out on their first Champions League semi-final appearance since 2009.
Mikel Arteta will have to galvanise his side for their next fixture, a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday at 19:30 BST.
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