Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti praised Thiago Alcantara’s display as the “perfect performance” as the Spaniard put Arsenal to the sword in a 5-1 win.
Thiago was the outstanding individual in an exceptional performance by the German champions, scoring the third and fourth goals in a win that almost certainly secured Bayern’s passage to the Champions League quarter-finals before a ball has been kicked in next month’s second leg.
“He played very well and got two goals to boot,” Ancelotti told BT Sport of Thiago. “It was a perfect performance.”
The Spaniard was hardly the only Bayern player to shine in the demolition of Arsenal, with Arjen Robben, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller all getting on the scoresheet.
At half time the match had been evenly poised, Alexis Sanchez converting the rebound from his missed penalty to cancel out a brilliant curling opener from Robben.
But Bayern found a level beyond Arsene Wenger’s side in the second half, scoring three in 10 minutes soon after Arsenal had lost captain Laurent Koscielny to injury, with Arsene Wenger admitting that his opponents had been the better side and had deserved their win.
Wenger further acknowledged that Arsenal require a “miracle” to knock Bayern out but Ancelotti refused to accept that the tie was over.
“We played fantastic football,” he added. “The result is important, but we still have a game in London. We have to show the same passion.”
