Ten goals flew in across the opening two quarterfinals of the Champions League as honours ended all square in Madrid and London.
An incredible see-saw battle in Spain saw Real Madrid go behind in two minutes to Manchester City, then lead 2-1, trail 3-2 before equalising in a game marked by some stunning strikes.
In London, Arsenal led early before slipping behind 2-1 at halftime against Bayern Munich – their old enemy Harry Kane converting an inevitable penalty in North London.
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A goal from Gunners super sub Leandro Trossard late in the second half levelled the tie at 2-2, and Arsenal felt they should have had a penalty in the final minutes when Bukayo Saka ran into Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer.
That moment has split the football world.
Later, Bayern boss Thomas Tuchel also complained that his team should have had a penalty of their own – claiming Gunners goal keeper David Raya had taken a goal kick that was then handled by Gabriel Magalhães
Modric magic in Madrid battle
Defending champions Manchester City and Real Madrid played out a six-goal classic including three incredible strikes.
Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead in the second minute when Bernardo Silva smashed a freekick from long range past Andriy Lunin at the near post.
Two deflected goals via Eduardo Camavinga’s long-range effort that hit Ruben Dias and spun past Stefan Ortega and Rodrygo got in behind the City defence and snuck a shot home.
Stunning goals from Phil Foden and left-back Josko Gvardiol put City back up 3-2. While Foden’s was very much in character in a stellar season, the Gvardiol strike was out of the blue.
“Gvardiol has the worst first touch in history. And then he somehow smashes his top corner,”said former Socceroo Craig Foster on Stan Sport.
“That first touch is absolutely disgusting. And very much a defender’s touch.”
The goal fest wasn’t over as Madrid equalised with a stunning volley from Federico Valverde.
Foster hailed the impact of Madrid’s 38-year-old midfielder Luka Modric.
“Luka Modric is an absolute maestro. He came on here and I thought Toni Kroos was one of the top players in this game. And he came on and he brought them back into it” said Foster.
“I don’t think he lost or misplaced a single pass. He did not misplace a single touch actually. He played forward all the time.You know what? It was an unbelievable performance for 25-30 minutes. Whatever it was of Luka Modric was absolutely beautiful.”
Kane does it again
When Harry Kane left Tottenham, Arsenal fans could have been excused a huge sigh of relief. But back at the Emirates with Bayern Munich, the Spurs legend shook up the locals one more time.
Arsenal led through Saka before one of their former players Serge Gnabry equalised following a terrible mix up at the back. Then after Leroy Sane burst through and won a penalty from William Saliba, Kane stepped up and rolled a penalty past David Raya, who committed far too early.
That was Kane’s 15th goals in 20 games against Arsenal, and his 39th in 38 matches for Bayern this year.
He further angered the Arsenal support when he looked at Gabriel Magalhães before swinging an elbow to his throat and was lucky to escape a red card.
Harry Kane of Bayern Munich speaks with Bukayo Saka of Arsenal.(Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
The hosts, who looked tentative and off their best, might well have won the match at the death when Saka was through on goal and ran into Neuer.
The decision caused plenty of debate and Foster and Bosnich were split on it in the Stan studio.
But in English coverage former players Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown had little doubt.
“Manuel Neuer leaves his leg out. It has to be a penalty. They [VAR] had to send him [referee] to look at it. It’s such a big decision in a game like this. There is so much riding on it,” said Ferdinand.
Keown added: “I find it quite alarming he has not given that penalty.”
There was a dissenting voice from former Arsenal and England defender Matthew Upson, speaking on BBC radio.
“I think it was the correct call not to award a penalty in the end,” said Upson. “On first instinct you think it has to be given, but having looked at a replay it looks like Bukayo Saka has initiated the contact. Manuel Neuer puts the breaks on as he rushes out and Saka almost kicks him in the end.
“A really good call from the referee under incredible pressure.”
Saka was furious and had to be led away from the officials at the end of the game.
Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta opted not to make too much about the non-decision. Instead he was ruing a chance that fell to Ben White as Arsenal led 1-0, just before the Bayern equaliser.
“The game had different moments. We started really well, we were dominant, didn’t concede anything. We scored a really good goal and after that is the moment of the game when Ben [White] is in front of [Manuel] Neuer and if it was 2-0 it would have been a very different game,” Arteta said.
“They scored and it created some uncertainty, the second goal was unusual for us to concede but it is the Champions League, you make a mistake and get punished.
“We allowed them the spaces to run and they were very dangerous but even at 2-1 we tried to make a rhythm, we were composed and didn’t try to rush things and the changes had an impact on the game.
“In the Champions League you give something they will take it. You get punished. That is part of football as well.
“The things we can control is do the simple things better.”
There are questions over Arteta’s ability to manage in high pressure European ties and he will face a bifg moment of truth in eight days in Munich.
“I have a lot of belief we can go there and beat them. We have to prepare really well,” he said.