Anatomy of a Goal: Evra's error, Ribery's movement break Juventus' heart

It's a goal that both Juventus and Bayern Munich supporters will play back in their minds for quite some time. Each for very different reasons.

Thomas Muller's 91st-minute equaliser was the catalyst behind the Bavarian juggernaut's astonishing comeback on Wednesday at the Allianz Arena, as Pep Guardiola's men, staring unlikely elimination in the face, overturned a 2-0 deficit to claim victory in extra time, reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League by virtue of a 6-4 aggregate triumph.

Related: Bayern Munich stages epic comeback to defeat Juventus in extra time

True, it was Thiago Alcantara's side-footed striker in the 108th minute that proved to be the eventual winner, but it was Muller's last-gasp header that got them there, and seemed to break Juventus' resolve in the process.

Dominating the enthralling fixture with their blistering counter-attack, the Bianconeri were roughly four minutes away from a victory few outside the club's dressing room thought possible.

Then came the goal. It was all downhill from there. Tied at four apiece on aggregate heading into extra time, it was impossible not to get the sense there was only ever going to be one victor. And so it proved to be.

Here's how Bayern rescued its European campaign:

The breakdown

The key moment is also the one that begins the move, as Patrice Evra, so solid throughout the contest, makes an error that, some would argue, is unforgivable given the circumstances. The ball pops free after an errant touch from Muller, and Paul Pogba makes the (correct) decision in allowing his compatriot to assume responsibility for the clearance - Evra is facing the opposing goal, and is much better positioned than Pogba to safely extinguish any danger.

Instead, the veteran attempts to dink the ball between two Bayern players, and is promptly dispossessed by the outstretched limb of dexterous midfielder Arturo Vidal - the type of tackle Juventus supporters are no doubt familiar with seeing after the Chilean's tenure in Turin.

As was the case in the opening leg, the Bayern counter-press played an enormous role in shaping the outcome of the contest.

Related - Anatomy of a Goal: How Bayern's counter-pressing blew up Juventus' defensive shape

Once the ball is retrieved by Bayern, Franck Ribery (circled below) comes into play. The oft-injured Frenchman, being marked by Stephan Lichtsteiner, begins his clever run from his typical left-wing position.

As the ball is played out wide to burgeoning superstar Kingsley Coman, whose introduction was vital in Bayern's resuscitation, both Ribery and Muller (circled below alongside Andrea Barzagli) are well-marked.

Ribery, instead of going to the back post, makes a darting run across the face of goal, dragging Lichtsteiner all the way into the center of the 6-yard box.

Muller, whose movement inside the area and ability to find dead spots in coverage is arguably unmatched in world football, drifts off the back of Barzagli, taking up the space now vacated by Lichtsteiner. When Coman's inch-perfect cross finds the expectant skull of Muller, notice how far Ribery has pulled Lichtsteiner away from his initial position.

It's impossible to know if the Swiss right-back would have been able to make an intervention on Muller had Ribery not been in the equation. Perhaps the German would have found the net regardless.

But there's no question his task was made easier by his teammate's decisive movement; just as it seems clear Juventus could have avoided this entire situation had Evra turned the ball into a souvenir for some lucky fan in the nosebleeds of the Allianz Arena.

"It's a shame to be eliminated after a performance like that, against a Bayern side that has extraordinary players," Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri said after the defeat.

On Wednesday, it was a pair of rather ordinary events, Evra's error and Ribery's run, that helped cultivate an extraordinary comeback.