
Brilliant Bayern defied the odds and overturned a 3-1 first leg deficit against Porto in Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final return in scintillating fashion, booking a place among the four best teams in Europe for the fourth time in a row with a fulminating 6-1 win on the night and a 7-4 success on aggregate.
The raucous 70,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena turned the stadium into a cauldron of noise and colour, and Pep Guardiola’s men responded with a blistering start as Thiago, Jerome Boateng and Robert Lewandowski netted superb headed goals to put FCB in the driving seat before the half-hour was up. Thomas Müller made it four and Lewandowski completed his brace in a stupendous first half, after which the German champions shifted down a gear or two for a long spell. Jackson Martinez pulled one back on 73 minutes with Porto’s first real chance, but the visitors' resistance was short lived as Marcano was sent off for a second bookable offence three minutes from time and Xabi Alonso brought up the half-dozen with a glorious free-kick.
All eyes at the club now turn to UEFA headquarters in Nyon at midday on Friday and the draw for the semi-finals in the continent’s elite club competition. The packed schedule continues on Saturday afternoon when Hertha Berlin visit the Allianz Arena, where Bayern can wrap up the Bundesliga title if results elsewhere fall their way, before the crunch DFB Cup semi-final clash with Borussia Dortmund on the same ground the following Tuesday.
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