Bayern Munich came from a goal down to claim a 2-1 lead against Sevilla in Tuesday night’s Champions League quarter-final first leg at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
The visitors began brightly as Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller sent efforts wide of target in the opening 10 minutes.
Just before the quarter-hour mark, tempers threatened to boil over when Arturo Vidal and Franck Ribery brought down Wissam Ben Yedder and Franco Vazquez in quick succession, leading to a flash point which had to be defused by the referee.
Joaquin Correa was then brought down by Ribery in the Bayern box and denied a penalty, while Pablo Sarabia scuffed an effort wide of an open goal on 20 minutes as the game continued to deliver plenty of drama.
Sarabia redeemed himself in the 32nd minute when Sergio Escudero’s cross at the back post was met and volleyed home by the 25-year-old Spaniard.
However, Bayern’s quality showed as they drew level just five minutes later, Ribery’s attempted cross into the box deflected into the net by Jesus Navas for an own goal.
Both sides continued to trade blows following the restart but the winner would be scored by the Bundesliga giants.
Thiago Alcantara met Ribery’s cross to the back post with a header low into the ground, which came off Escudero and bounced into the net beyond the reach of goalkeeper David Soria.