Bayern Munich, Malaga advance in Champions League

Posted by Jason York, ESPN Stats & Information

Bayern Munich and Malaga booked their places in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals Wednesday, though each took a different path to reach the final eight.

Bayern Munich reached the quarterfinals for the fourth time in five seasons as it slipped past Arsenal, which won 2-0 Wednesday, on away goals. Malaga overturned a 1-0 first-leg deficit and defeated Porto 2-0 at home to reach the quarterfinals in its CL debut.

Arsenal, which according to ESPN's Soccer Power Index only had a 1.1 percent chance of reversing its 3-1 aggregate deficit against Bayern and advance Wednesday, nearly did it. Arsenal scored its opening goal in the third minute through Olivier Giroud, who finished a cross from Theo Wolcott. Arsenal scored all three of its goals in the two legs against Bayern from either crosses or corner kicks.

Bayern failed to trouble Arsenal’s defense with any pressure from passes completed into the penalty area. Bayern completed just six passes into the box, its lowest total in either CL or Bundesliga play this season.

Malaga ramped up its attacking pressure in the second leg against Porto. Malaga completed 140 passes into the attacking third of the field compared to its competition-low 40 in the first leg. Malaga, which did not have a shot on goal against Porto in the first leg, managed five on Wednesday.

In contrast, Porto completed just 73 passes into the attacking third, its lowest total in eight CL games this season.

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