15 March 2024 , 11:25
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Arsenal will meet Bayern Munich in the quarter-final of the Champions League in a showdown that will see Harry Kane return to north London for the first time.
However, one group that won't be there is the Bayern fans themselves. The travelling faithful of the Bundesliga champions have been banned from attending the away leg of the quarter-final due to Bayer supporters throwing fireworks onto the pitch during the 3-1 win against Lazio earlier on this month.
UEFA actually slapped Bayern with a €40,000 fine back in October for doing the same thing during the 2-1 win over Copenhagen. The German giants were given a one-game suspended ban from purchasing away tickets, which was triggered by the incidents at Lazio.
Bayern were quick to concede that they will not bother appealing the decision. Club CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen explained: "We have to accept this punishment. Not only were pyrotechnics set off, but also fired deliberately onto the field, directly endangering bystanders.
"This was such an explicit violation of the conditions of probation that an appeal is unfortunately futile. The fact we now have to play away without the support of our fans is a big blow. A small group of individual offenders have done a disservice to all our supporters and the team."
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In what is even better news for the Gunners, Arsenal are actually allowed to fill the away end with their own fans. Therefore, Arteta's side will have a 60,000-capacity stadium packed to the rafters with every single person inside cheering them on.
Bayern have met Arsenal many times before in European club football's most prestigious competition, but may not be as confident given they make the trip to north London without their fans. From the Gunners' perspective, they will look to make that advantage count in game one.
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Bayern Munich fans have been banned from their away leg against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finalMikel Arteta's side reached the last eight of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years after beating Porto via a penalty shootout in the round of 16. Progression was more straightforward for Bayern, who beat Lazio 3-1 on aggregate in the previous round.
The meeting of the Bundesliga champions and Premier League title contenders will mark the first time Kane has played against his old north London rivals since leaving Tottenham in the summer.
The England captain was always a thorn in the side of Gunners defenders during his Spurs days and will be out to inflict more misery when he comes back in a Bayern shirt.
While this is by no means an easy tie for either, Arsenal will be confident that they can get the better of Thomas Tuchel's side and be thankful that they have avoided the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City.
With that being said, whoever does triumph in this two-legged showdown will go on to play one of Los Blancos or City, as they route to the final has already been drawn.
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