Article by Maria Olteanu – Published Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 10:22 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 10:29 p.m.
The return of the Champions League quarter-finals, between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, got off to a flying start with a quick goal just 40 seconds after the starting whistle.
The ball was barely in play when the hosts' goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, made a colossal mistake. He rushed, sent stammering, from sliding, only to the opponent. Arda Guler took advantage of the hosts' goalkeeper's inattention, perfectly intercepted the ball and, seeing the empty goal, sent a superb lob from over 40 meters.
The score changed quickly, 1-0, not even a minute after the first whistle, Real Madrid thus managing to restore equality on the whole from the start of the confrontation.
PHOTO with Neuer's blunder and Arda Guler's successful goal
It is not the first time that Arda Guler scores a superb goal from long range. In March, in Real's 4-1 victory, in the 28th stage of La Liga, against Elche, Arda Guler scored the goal of the year, from 68 meters. The Spaniards calculated the distance and concluded that it is the longest in the history of the competition.
The joy of Madrid lasted only 5 minutes, after the Bavarians equalized at 1 in the 6th minute, through Pavlovic, who put his head perfectly after the execution of a corner, moving to the front again at the general.
The winner will play in the semi-finals against PSG, who won 4-0 on aggregate against Liverpool.
The starting teams at Bayern – Real Madrid
Bayern (4-2-3-1): Neuer – Stanisic, Upamecano, Tah, Laimer – Kimmich, Pavlovic – Olise, Gnabry, Diaz – Kane
reserves: Urbig, Minjae, Goretzka, Musiala, Jackson, Davies, Ito, Guerreiro, Osmani
Coach: Vincent Kompany
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Lunin – Trent, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy – Brahim Diaz, Valverde, Bellingham, Arda Güler – Vinicius, Mbappé
Reserves: Gonzalez, Navarro, Carvajal, Alaba, Camavinga, Gonzalo, Carreras, Ceballos, F. Garcia, Huijsen, Mastantuono, Pitarch
Coach: Alvaro Arbeloa
