Bayern Munich's Champions League journey came up short once again as Julian Nagelsmann's side was stunned by Villarreal's late series winner at the Allianz Arena.
Villarreal's 1-0 first leg lead kept Unai Emery's visiting Spanish side in line for a last-four spot in the first half before Robert Lewandowski fired the Bavarians level on aggregate after the restart.
However, despite laying siege to the Villarreal goal in the final stages, the hosts were picked off with two minutes to go as Samuel Chukwueze superbly finished off a flowing counterattack.
The Bayern stars were left distraught at the full-time whistle, as another season ended in European disappointment, with the inquest over another Champions League exit coming up for Nagelsmann.
Below is a rundown of their recent Champions League disappointments for a team that many expected to add to its 2020 triumph, or at least make a run at one or two more finals along the way.
MORE: Bayern Munich vs. Villarreal result & highlights
𝗠𝗔𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦!
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) April 12, 2022
Who would like to be celebrating in this dressing room 🙋♂️?#UCL pic.twitter.com/6GtspwIYPJ
| Season | Manager | Champions League Finish |
Eliminated by | Aggregate Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | Nagelsmann | Quarterfinals | Villarreal (Spain) | 2-1 |
| 2020-21 | Flick | Quarterfinals | PSG (France) | 3-3 |
| 2019-20 | Flick | Final | — | — |
| 2018-19 | Kovac | Round of 16 | Liverpool (England) | 3-1 |
| 2017-18 | Heynckes | Semifinals | Real Madrid (Spain) | 4-3 |
| 2016-17 | Ancelotti | Quarterfinals | Real Madrid (Spain) | 6-3 |
| 2015-16 | Guardiola | Semifinals | Atletico Madrid (Spain) | 2-2 |
| 2014-15 | Guardiola | Semifinals | Barcelona (Spain) | 5-3 |
| 2013-14 | Guardiola | Semifinals | Real Madrid (Spain) | 5-0 |
2020-21: Eliminated by PSG in quarterfinals
On the back of winning the 2020 Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, the 2020-21 quarterfinal showdown was loaded with a revenge narrative for the Parisians.
A 3-2 first leg defeat to a Kylian Mbappe-inspired PSG kept Hansi Flick's side in the contest. But Eric Choupo-Moting's winner in Paris was not enough to turn the tide as Bayern bowed out on away goals.
2019-20: Glory in Lisbon
The disruption of COVID-19 on the 2019-20 Champions League did not impact Bayern to the extent it did other teams with Flick's mid-season arrival reigniting their campaign.
The nixing of two-legged series caused some controversy, but Bayern took full advantage to dismantle Barcelona 8-2 in the last eight, and then dispatch Lyon 3-0 in the semis. Kingsley Coman's winner in a tight final against PSG sealed a first European title since 2013.
2018-19: Klopp reigns in Munich
The 2018-19 Champions League saw Bayern Munich's worst finish in the competition as Niko Kovac's first season at the helm ended in a last 16 exit against Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's side were too much for Bayern to handle in the Allianz Arena second leg as Sadio Mane and Virgil Van Dijk netted memorable goals with the Reds going on to clinch the trophy in Madrid.
2017-18: Heynckes fails to ignite Bayern
Bayern Munich's 2017-18 season was dominated by managerial upheaval as Carlo Ancelotti was controversially sacked inside the first eight weeks of the season with club legend Jupp Heynckes eventually returning to replace him.
After cruising past Besiktas and Sevilla in the knockout stages, Heynckes tried to go punch-for-punch with Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid in the semifinals, with the star-studded Blancos attack eventually edging them out 4-3 on aggregate.
2016-17: Ronaldo demolition in Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti's measured approach appeared to the perfect fit to ease Bayern's talented squad to the promise of a Champions League title in 2017.
Ancelotti's side flexed their muscle to destroy Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16, but they bumped into an in-form Cristiano Ronaldo in the quarterfinals.
It finished 6-3 on aggregate and Ronaldo had five of Real Madrid's six goals. Two Ronaldo goals in the first leg had Ancelotti on the back foot in Madrid, and despite dragging the contest into extra time, Ronaldo finished with a hat trick to bury the current Real Madrid boss.
2015-16: Pep bows out with La Liga curse intact
After coming out on the losing end against Real Madrid and Barcelona in his first two Champions League seasons at Bayern, Guardiola faced a last chance saloon against Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in 2016.
Unlike his previous defeats, Guardiola had the chance to bounce Simeone's side, but his team missed its big chance as it finished 2-2 on aggregate. But Antoine Griezmann's away goal for Atletico dumped Bayern out at the semis for a third successive season under his leadership.
2014-15: No warm welcome for Pep back at Barca
With Guardiola still smarting from his inglorious defeat against Real Madrid in 2014, the Catalan coach faced a different challenge in 2015, as he headed back to Barcelona.
The pre-game build up was dominated by the returning hero, but his former star names had little time for on-field pleasantries as Lionel Messi's late brace secured a 3-0 win for Barcelona in the first leg.
Up against his old charges, Pep had little chance of flipping the script at the Allianz, as late goals sealed a 3-2 Bayern win on the night but another semifinal exit with a 5-3 aggregate loss.
2013-14: Ramos and Ronaldo double team Pep
Pep Guardiola's arrival in Bavaria was tipped as the missing piece in ensuring Bayern would consistently challenge La Liga and Premier League clubs in the Champions League.
However, he bumped into two familiar foes in the semifinals, after seeing off Arsenal and Manchester United in the previous rounds. Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo each netted twice in Madrid to seal a 4-0 Blancos mauling of the former Barcelona boss (5-0 on aggregate).
Over half a billion dollars for one Champions League?
Bayern Munich's Champions League record under Guardiola and since the Catalan coach's departure is an underwhelming return for one of European football's real powerhouses.
Since Pep's arrival in Bavaria, the club has spent an estimated £542m on players (over $700 million), with one European title to show for their enormous investment.
The club has also looked to mix up their management recruitment strategy to break the cycle of underachievement, from the iconic appointment of Guardiola, through the pragmatic experience of Ancelotti, and on to the dynamism of Flick and Nagelsmann.
However, the ruthlessness needed in the crunch stages of the Champions League has consistently deserted Bayern and defeat to Villarreal marks a new low in their recent European struggles.
