Bayern Munich vs Villarreal: Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is confident of reaching the Champions League last-4

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is confident that his side can overcome Villarreal and reach the semi-finals of Champions League. The Bavarians will host Villarreal in the second leg of the quarter-final tie on Tuesday and need to overturn a one goal deficit in order to go through to the next round. In the first leg at El Madrigal, Arnaut Danjuma’s early strike was the difference between the two sides. 

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?️ @Manuel_Neuer: “Villarreal are strong on the counter. We want to play to the best of our abilities and will also have the support from the fans. We know what it’s like to go into a knockout game on the back of a negative first-round result. We aren’t afraid.”#packmas #FCBVCF pic.twitter.com/hlW6SJfEWa

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) April 11, 2022

Unai Emery’s side produced a defensive masterclass to take advantage against the Bavarians in the two-legged tie. Meanwhile Bayern struggled to find a way through a disciplined Villarreal defence and also struggled to cope with their quick counter-attacks. The score-line could have been worse for the German giants if not for Neuer and the woodwork.

However, overturning a one goal deficit at home isn’t an impossible task and Julian Nagelsmann’s side have the firepower to do so. Once again the onus will be on star-striker Robert Lewandowski to lead the attack. 

“We have to show determination, be ambitious, and you can always count on us to do that. We lost the first leg, it hurt us, but we only lost 1-0. We weren’t happy with the performance, but it’s the best kind of defeat you can get,” said the Bayern captain.

Bayern seem to be lacking a creative midfielder’s presence. Thiago Alcantara played a crucial role in Bayern’s Champions League triumph in 2020, and since his departure to Liverpool in the following summer, the Bavarians have lacked a creative spark in the middle of the park.

Nagelsmann’s side enter the contest having won five of their last six games at home in all competitions, and it has been over three years since they last failed to score at least two goals in a Champions League game in Allianz Arena. 

“We have won a lot of games in the Champions League and we know we have to win. We’ve done that in the past, and we’re not to be messed with after we’ve lost a game like we did over there.”

On the other hand, the Spanish side is now just 90 minutes away from reaching only the second Champions League semi-final in the club’s history, which they managed once previously in the 2005-06 before failing to Arsenal.

Once again it’s going to be Villareal’s defence vs Bayern’s attack. Emery’s side is likely to park the bus in front of the goal and will try to hit the opposition on the counter attacks as they did last week.