‘Neuer Is The Reason Bayern Reached Semi-Final’

In a passionate display of support for veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has insisted that Bayern Munich would never have advanced to the UEFA Women’s Champions League semifinal without their iconic shot-stopper.

Her comments came in the wake of Bayern Munich’s dramatic 5–4 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their semifinal clash on Tuesday night—a high-scoring affair that saw Neuer endure an unusually difficult performance between the posts.

Despite the excitement of an eight-goal thriller, much of the post-match conversation centered on Neuer’s uncharacteristic struggles. The legendary German goalkeeper conceded five goals without registering a single save, a rare blemish on an otherwise stellar career.

Yet Oshoala, a six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year and current Barcelona striker, took to her official X (formerly Twitter) account to rally behind the Bayern captain.

She dismissed the criticism as shortsighted, pointing to Neuer’s crucial role in getting the team to this stage of the competition.

“lol without him, Bayern no go dey semi final. It’s just one of those nights,” Oshoala wrote, using Nigerian Pidgin for emphasis before adding in English: “It’s just one of those nights.”

The message struck a chord with fans, many of whom agreed that Neuer’s leadership and extraordinary saves throughout the quarterfinal rounds were the backbone of Bayern’s campaign.

Oshoala’s defense also highlighted a broader truth in football: even the greatest players have off nights, but their contributions over an entire season often go unnoticed in the heat of a single defeat.

While Bayern now face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit in the second leg, Oshoala’s words served as a reminder that Neuer’s legacy and his importance to this Bayern side remains unquestioned. For the Nigerian international, one bad performance does not erase a season’s worth of heroics.