••
The UEFA Champions League reached a fever pitch as Bayern Munich secured their place in the semi-finals after a pulsating 4-3 victory over Real Madrid, progressing 6-4 on aggregate. In a match defined by relentless momentum shifts, the German giants fought back repeatedly after Real Madrid took the lead three times during a frantic first half that produced five goals. The tactical battle intensified in the second period, ultimately turning in Bayern's favor following a red card for Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, who was sent off late in the game. The breakthrough arrived in the final minutes when Luis Diaz netted the decisive goal, followed by an injury-time strike from Michael Olise to seal the victory and set up a high-stakes semi-final clash against Paris St-Germain.
While Bayern celebrated, Barcelona’s European ambitions ended in frustration and controversy following a 3-2 aggregate defeat to Atlético Madrid. Despite a spirited second-leg start featuring goals from Lamine Yamal and Ferran Torres, the Catalan side struggled to maintain their momentum after Eric Garcia was shown a red card. The aftermath of the match was dominated by heated criticism of referee Clément Turpin, who faced heavy social media backlash for perceived bias. Barcelona winger Raphinha, though sidelined by injury, echoed the team's collective outrage by claiming "the game was completely robbed." Fans and players pointed to inconsistencies in officiating, arguing that Atlético’s aggressive play went unpunished while pivotal fouls against Barcelona were overlooked.
The high intensity of the competition has also taken a significant physical toll, most notably on Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike. The French attacker is likely to miss the World Cup after sustaining a suspected Achilles injury during a Champions League encounter against Paris St-Germain. Ekitike, who has been in sensational form with 17 goals this season, was forced off on a stretcher, leaving manager Arne Slot to lament the team's growing injury list. As the tournament moves into the semi-final stage, the focus shifts to Bayern Munich’s upcoming battle with PSG, while the fallout from Barcelona’s exit continues to spark debate across the footballing world.
This story touches markets covered on Anansi Intelligence ↗.
Continue exploring similar stories
