Barça will need the magic of Camp Nou to play a new Champions League final

MunichBarça draws at Bayern Munich (1-1) and will have to win next Sunday (4:30 PM) at Camp Nou to be in the Champions League final in Oslo. The blaugranes took an early lead with a goal from Ewa Pajor in an imposing setting like the Allianz Arena —which acted as the 12th player—, but saw Kett —who was sent off after pulling Salma's hair— equalize the match in the second half.

Seven years ago, Barça visited Munich with the illusion of becoming one of the great teams in Europe. It had not been an easy season, with a change of coach included in January with the arrival of Lluís Cortés in place of Fran Sánchez. That team dreamed of reaching a Champions League final, a feat never achieved until then. With this motivation, they went to Germany to play the second Champions League semi-final in their history. A tie that the Catalan team would end up winning (2-0 on aggregate) to play in their first European final.

Since then, the Blaugranas have not missed a single semi-final round. They have been among the four best teams in Europe for eight consecutive seasons, reaching six finals. Seven years later, Barça has returned to the place where it became great: Munich. This time, however, it has done so having become the team to beat for everyone and in a majestic setting, the Allianz Arena (in 2019 the match was played at Bayern Campus).

Pajor starts the way

A very evenly matched game between two teams that have had a "spectacular" season, as José Barcala, the Galician coach of Bayern Munich, said in the preview. The first chance fell to the Bavarian side with a shot from Pernille Harder that went directly wide. But the one who carried the entire weight of the German attack was Klara Bühl, Bayern's great star.

Barça did not have a placid game, but they quickly found the goal. Patri Guijarro threaded a pass to Esmee Brugts, who placed the ball inside the area for Ewa Pajor to finish. Calm among the Barça fans who had traveled to Munich, around two hundred between those in the visiting stands and those who had infiltrated the home section, but not in the dugout area. Pere Romeu appeared very nervous during the first half. A symptom that something was not quite convincing the Catalan was the moment of the goal celebration. Romeu did not let Patri Guijarro celebrate and quickly called her over to give her some instructions.

Bayern, very well placed on the field, has positioned its lines very close together, which has made it difficult for the blaugranes' attacks, who have had tranquility, but not precision. The Bavarian team has finished the first half much better —with a cheerleading stand that acted as the 12th player— and has forced Cat Coll to intervene to prevent the 0-1 after a shot from Kett.

Kett draws and is sent off

The second half started lively with a first clear chance for Esmee Brugts. The Dutchwoman's shot hit the post and Mahmutovic almost put the ball into her own net on the rebound. Patri also had the 0-2 after heading a corner, but Gilles saved on the goal line. Meanwhile, in defence, Mapi León was imperial, very focused on preventing dangerous plays from Bayern.

At one of Barça's best moments in the match —with chances to score the second goal—, a quick counter-attack by the Germans to equalize the game. Pernille Harder perfectly got past Irene Paredes and Ona Batlle's backs to combine with Kett and level the tie in front of the celebration of the 31,000 people present at the Allianz Arena, a Champions League record, who danced to the rhythm of the cancan.

A European tie is decided by small details. You also need a bit of luck and for the scales to tip in your favor. And Barça found it at the Allianz Arena with Kett's expulsion for pulling Salma Paralluelo's hair. Coach José Barcala also saw the red card for his proposals in response to the protests from the Allianz Arena, which began to whistle at Salma every time she touched the ball. Mapi León and Salma had the winning goal, but Mahmutovic prevented it with a great save. Barça gets a valuable 1-1 draw from an imposing venue, the Allianz Arena, and will have to win next Sunday (4:30 PM) at the Camp Nou if they want to be in the Champions League final in Oslo.