Champions League delivers action packed drama as Real Madrid vs. Man City, Arsenal vs. Bayern end in draws

Ten total goals gave us a Champions League night to remember

The fireworks were flying as both of Tuesday's Champions League quarterfinal matches both ended level as Arsenal drew 2-2 with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid finished 3-3 with Manchester City. Each match started the scoring early as Bayern withstood a 12th-minute goal from Bukayo Saka and Real Madrid bounced back after a tricky free kick from Bernardo Silva to push things level. Alphonso Davies will be suspended for Bayern Munich in the second leg due to yellow card accumulation while Real Madrid will be without Aurelien Tchouameni after his yellow only 38 seconds into the match.

Madrid featured a host of beautiful goals as Fede Valverde, Phil Foden, and Josko Gvardiol all had finishes to remember but Silva's quick thinking on his free kick takes the cake. Noticing that Andriy Lunin wasn't expecting him to take a shot, Silva quickly whipped the shot in to go ahead two minutes in.

All three goals for City came from outside of the box as Real Madrid maintained control of their area stopping Erling Haaland from shooting but without Kyle Walker, City also struggled on the defensive end. Without Kevin De Bruyne due to illness, City weren't at their best creating chances but going back to Manchester level is something that they'll still feel good about.

For Arsenal, a halftime change was needed as Jakub Kiwior wasn't up to the challenge of defending Harry Kane, and David Raya was caught too early twice but everything that could go wrong did and they still emerged with a draw. That shows growth for the Gunners in top matches as now they'll need to polish up those errors heading into Germany for the second leg. There was a moment at the end of the game where Manuel Neuer could've conceded a penalty after bringing down Saka but the Englishman was judged to have initiated the contact, saving the draw for Bayen.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Champions League scores

• Arsenal 2, Bayern Munich 2 (FT)
• Real Madrid 3, Manchester City 3 (FT)

[Apr 9, 2024 at 5:15 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Well this makes for interesting second legs

Manchester City put up a valiant effort without Kevin De Bruyne being available for the match but their defense let them down allowing three goals to Real Madrid. Arsenal wasn't able to make home pitch advantage count facing Bayern Munich but the German side will be without Alphonso Davies in the second leg due to yellow card accumulation.  

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:54 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

That's quite a no call

Manuel Neuer tackled Bukayo Saka in the box but no penalty was given. The whistle has gone but while there was contact in the box, the contact was judged to have been initiated by Saka.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:48 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Can anyone get a winner?

We're entering the final moments of both matches and things hang perfectly in the balance so far. Not much has been able to separate the teams but with stoppage time coming, there is a chance for someone to get a winner.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:41 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Level yet again 

This is just top class as Fede Valverde now has leveled the match yet again. We're locked as these teams are making every shot on target count.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:35 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Jesus and Trossard combine

It was an excellent finish for Trossard but Jesus did very important work to set things up. The duo have only been on the pitch for 10 minutes but that's all they needed to make their impact felt.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:32 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

What a time for your first City goal

It's Josko Gvardiol and Madrid's lead has evaporated to put City back ahead for the first time since the 12th minute. It was an unstoppable strike as City are flying in the second half of play.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:27 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Fabulous Phil

What a season Foden is having for Manchester City as again he is given too much space and makes Real Madrid pay. It has happened time and time again as Foden is maximizing every chance that he has. 

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The second half has calmed down a little

Reaching the 60-minute mark in Madrid and City are getting a few more shots off but not particularly testing Lunin yet. Real Madrid are fine ceding possession but they'd surely like another goal before the match is out.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:15 pm ET · James Benge]

That Zinchenko change might be good for Arsenal

There was plenty of skepticism around the Emirates at the sight of Kiwior being replaced by a player widely viewed as a minus defender in Zinchenko. Now is probably not the forum to debate the Ukrainian's defensive qualities but they may not matter much at all. For starters, Arsenal look the better team so it makes sense to use your best in possession options. Then there is the rejiggling that comes to the in possession back three, which will now be the White-Saliba-Gabriel triumvirate. Those three will probably do much of the defending if Bayern look to counter and that means you have moments like that one we just saw, where the dangerous Sane is one on one not with Kiwior but Gabriel. In the end he merely kicks a nothing pass to Saliba infield.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:13 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

A yellow to Kane

You can feel the Tottenham colors still flowing through Kane as he elbows Gabriel while going for the ball. He didn't expect to get caught but it's certainly a yellow.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 4:04 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Zinchenko is in 

It was an unlikely start for Kiwior and it will only last a half as Arteta will come out of the gate to press Bayern quickly with an attack-minded left back in the match. 

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:50 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

We've reached the half in both games

Wow, that was some soccer as each game is 2-1 with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich leading at the break. It has been nonstop soccer but now it's time for everyone to catch their breath for a second.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:47 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

That's pretty good for Kane

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:38 pm ET · James Benge]

Arsenal's strength undoes them

For half an hour Arsenal had been forcing Bayern to build through Dier with Havertz continually placing himself between Neuer and De Ligt. It worked like a dream, forcing a string of aimless punts to Kane that tended to bounce the Gunners' way. Then Neuer just went and did the sort of thing only a generational goalkeeper has the audacity to try, flicking the ball up and volleying it over Havertz to De Ligt. Soon after Sane was charging forward and Bayern were 2-1 up. That's football for you.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:34 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Sending Raya the wrong way, Kane scores

Kane's quite used to scoring against the Gunners as he only needed to roll the ball into the net with Raya going the wrong way. Bayern are back to rearing their heads as Arsenal's bogey team in the early going as Mikel Arteta's staunch defense has looked shell shocked.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:32 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

It's a penalty to Bayern Munich

Leroy Sane was taken down in the box and it's now up to Harry Kane to take it.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:27 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

And here's Gnabry

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:26 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Madness in Madrid 

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:22 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Back to catching up

Here's Buykayo Saka:

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:20 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

The ole revenge goal

Serge Gnabry said it has been too long (just a few minutes) since we've last seen a goal. David Raya and the Arsenal defense were caught out as Gnabry curled his run well and leveled things for Bayern Munich. This game is on skates early on.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:18 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Now while we have a second, let's run back some goals

Bernardo Silva's opener for City:

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:17 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Oh hello Real Madrid

It took a deflection but Eduardo Camavinga had gotten an unlikely leveler followed quickly by Rodrygo scoring a deflected goal off of Manuel Akanji. What an opener as these games are off to the races and then some 15 minutes in. Could City's defensive injuries be the defining moments here?

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:14 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Bukauyo Saka is here

It took only 12 minutes for Arsenal to get their opener against Bayern. It was an excellent run from Sak before a tidy finish as Davies was out of position defensively. North London is already rocking and that sent the stadium into the stratosphere as Arsenal faithful cheer their team on.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:09 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

City are off to the races

If Madrid can't find balance, this could be over for it begins. Los Blancos had an attacking chance but couldn't find Vinicius Junior in the box before immediately giving a chance to Haaland on the other end. City are brimming with confidence after that early opener and with how porous Madrid's defense seems, you can't blame them either.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:09 pm ET · James Benge]

Bayern identify Arsenal's weak point

Kiwior's presence in the XI was enough to make you wonder if Tuchel might line up his flanks in a way that tested the weak point of this naturally left-footed center back. That seems to be the case with Sane wide on the right and Bayern consistently looking to test the Arsenal left. That may not be a great crisis however. If Sane wants to cut in on his left foot then he is merely entering the Declan Rice zone, rarely a region fleet-footed wingers get through unscathed. A step across from Arsenal's No.41 and he's killed the momentum of the Bayern move.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:05 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

That was faster

Bernardo Silva saw that he had the space to go for goal from his free kick and caught Lunin out making Tchouameni's early yellow even more costly. You already can't give CIty additional chances in a match and Madrid are now up against it before they can even sustain possession. 

[Apr 9, 2024 at 3:03 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

That was fast

It only took 38 seconds for Aurelien Tchouameni to receive a yellow card for a challenge. He'll now be suspended for the second leg in Manchester due to yellow card accumulations so it was a tough one to take.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 2:55 pm ET · Chuck Booth]

Five minutes until kickoff

It's almost time to get today's matches underway.

[Apr 9, 2024 at 2:50 pm ET · James Benge]

Welcome back to north London Harry

Hearty boos for Bayern Munich's No.9 Kane as his name is read out to a maybe half full Emirates. Eric Dier gets away with it a little bit more -- although is a smattering of indifference really better than loathing?