UCL: Bayern progress against Lazio
Bayern Munich 3 - 0 Lazio (Bayern Munich win 3-1 on aggregate)
FC Bayern clinched a resounding 3-0 victory over Lazio, securing their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Harry Kane and Thomas Müller led the charge, overturning Lazio's 1-0 first-leg lead in the opening half, with Kane sealing his brace in the second half for a 3-1 aggregate triumph.
The Bavarians fielded a formidable lineup, with Manuel Neuer guarding the goal and Joshua Kimmich, Matthijs de Ligt, Eric Dier, and Raphaël Guerreiro forming the defensive wall. In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlović and Leon Goretzka provided stability, while Leroy Sané, Müller, and Jamal Musiala orchestrated the attack alongside Kane.
Alphonso Davies, Mathys Tel, Konrad Laimer, and Serge Gnabry made late appearances in the second half, replacing Guerreio, Müller, Sané, and Musiala respectively.
UCL and UEL (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com)
Munich quickly stamped their authority on the game after an evenly matched opening fifteen minutes. Musiala's long-range effort was saved, and Kane's shot narrowly missed the target before blocked attempts by Musiala and Guerreiro.
Dier missed a headed opportunity, while Ciro Immobile's header failed to trouble the Bayern defence. However, Bayern drew level on aggregate when Müller and Guerreiro combined, allowing Kane to powerfully head past Lazio keeper Ivan Provedel. Musiala came close again, but Bayern doubled their lead just before half-time when Müller diverted De Ligt's volley into the net.
The second half mirrored the first, with Musiala's shot deflected behind and Guerreiro missing narrowly. Bayern increased their advantage after the hour mark when Provedel parried Sané's shot, only for Kane to pounce on the rebound.
Bayern controlled the game with their passing prowess, with Müller hitting the post and Sané narrowly missing the target. Goretzka's crucial block denied Luis Alberto, ensuring Bayern maintained a clean sheet and progressed deservedly to the quarter-finals.
Some fan reaction
Andy, an English-based Bayern Munich fan living in Bury, said: "This is the true grit and determination of Bayern Munich on display when they're up against it. It took a stellar performance to overcome Lazio, and boy, did they deliver. The lads showed incredible resolve and cool-headedness to not just level the playing field from a 1-0 deficit but to dominate by the final whistle.
"Joshua Kimmich stepped up at right-back – he's starting to find his groove in that position again. With Pavlović excelling in defensive midfield, Kimmich could be the right fit to hold down the RB spot for the remainder of the season, depending on how injuries impact the squad."
