In last night’s Champions League knockout stage first legs Bayern Munich won 3-1 at Arsenal, while Porto claimed a 1-0 home victory against La Liga side Malaga.

Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich were just far too good for Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Bayern took the lead after just seven minutes. Thomas Muller’s cross was poorly dealt with and midfielder Toni Kroos fired home a superb effort past Wojciech Szczesny. The visitors looked to be in complete control and the second goal arrived on 21 minutes.

Centre-back Daniel van Buyten’s header from a corner was saved by Szczesny, only for Muller to poke home the rebound from close-range. The Arsenal players seemed to lose their heads, with Mikel Arteta and Bacary Sagna receiving yellow cards for rash tackles.

The Gunners were handed a lifeline in the tie ten minutes into the second half. Jack Wilshere’s corner was headed home by former-Bayern star Lukas Podolski, after Manuel Neuer had needlessly come out of his goal.

Bayern looked to have taken a major step into the next round on 77 minutes. Phillip Lahm’s cross hit Mario Mandzukic’s shin and his effort rather luckily looped over Wojciech Szczesny and into the net, via a touch from Bacary Sagna.

Arsenal will now have the difficult task of trying to recover the deficit in the second half leg at the Allianz Arena.

In the other Champions League game of the night Portuguese side Porto defeated Malaga 1-0 at the Estadio Do Dragao. Chances were very limited, as both teams have superb defensive records in their domestic leagues.

The only goal of the game arrived in the 56^th minute. Portuguese international midfielder Joao Moutinho broke through the Malaga offside trap from Fernando’s pass and fired home. The Portuguese side would have hoped for a bigger lead to take to Andalusia in the second leg, as the tie is very evenly balanced.

Can Arsenal recover from their first leg Champions League defeat?