Thiago, Coman strike as Bayern fight back to beat Juventus

MUNICH, Germany: Substitutes Thiago Alcantara and Kingsley Coman scored extra-time goals as Bayern Munich roared back to beat Juventus 4-2 in their Champions League last 16, second leg on Wednesday and win 6-4 on aggregate.

A stunned Bayern found themselves 2-0 down after 28 minutes at the Allianz Arena as Paul Pogba and Juan Cuadrado struck for the Italians before the Bavarians scored four unanswered goals.

Just like in the first leg in Turin, when Bayern threw away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw, the home side fought back as Robert Lewandowski netted on 73 minutes before Thomas Mueller’s dramatic equaliser in the 91st minute forced extra time.

Thiago came off the bench to put Bayern ahead for the first time on 108 minutes before fellow replacement Coman -- on loan from Juventus -- curled in a superb strike on 110 minutes to put the Bavarians in the quarter-finals for the fifth season in a row.

“That was a crazy game,” said Mueller. “We knew, even when we were 2-0 down, that we were still in it.”

Bayern captain Philipp Lahm added: “What an unbelievable evening. You could see how tight things are when two top teams meet each other. We knew it would be all over if we had conceded a third goal.”

The fightback keeps alive Pep Guardiola’s dream of bringing the Champions League trophy to Munich at the third and final attempt before his high-profile move to Manchester City next season.

This is the seventh time Guardiola has reached the Champions League quarter-finals in as many attempts as a coach at the highest level.

In his four years with Barcelona, he won the title in 2009 and 2011, reaching the semi-finals in 2010 and 2012, while he steered Bayern to the last four in Europe in each of the last two seasons. - AFP