Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel was openly frustrated with the officiating during the Champions League quarter final second leg against Manchester City, criticizing both the playing surface and the referee after the 1-1 draw in Munich. He suggested that the two key elements of the game were not on the same level, lamenting that the referee’s choices from start to finish would have earned the worst possible mark in his assessment. Tuchel specifically contested a penalty decision against his side, saying he saw no foul in the incident that led to the spot kick.
The match, staged at the Allianz Arena on 19 April, finished with a tally of 1-1. City forward Erling Haaland, a constant threat on the night, found the net in the 57th minute after a tense period of play. Despite earning a penalty earlier in the game, Haaland could not convert from the spot in the 38th minute, leaving the scoreline intact for a portion of the second half.
Bayern responded with resilience. Joshua Kimmich converted from the penalty spot in the 83rd minute, restoring parity and giving Tuchel’s side a chance to push for a late winner. The second leg had already left City with a comfortable advantage from the first encounter, where they had defeated Bayern 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium a week earlier, setting the tone for the tie.
In the other half of the quarter finals, Manchester City advanced by overcoming a challenge from their Premier League rivals. On the opposite side of the bracket, Real Madrid clinched a place in the semi finals after defeating Chelsea in their two-legged tie, with Madrid advancing on aggregate against the English side. The result set up a high-profile semi final pairing with the defending European champions potentially awaiting Manchester City, while Paris Saint-Germain or Liverpool could have offered a different storyline in another bracket. The atmosphere around the competition remained electric as teams pushed for a coveted place in the final four teams of Europe’s premier club competition.
Reflecting on his team’s performance, Tuchel expressed satisfaction with the level of effort his players demonstrated. The match left Bayern with high hopes despite the uphill climb, and the manager emphasized that the performance and spirit shown by his squad were commendable under the circumstances. The clash underscored the fine margins that define elite European football, where tactical discipline, momentum swings, and officiating interpretations can shape the outcome of a decisive fixture.