Kane to the rescue! Bayern complete UCL turnaround
With two goals from the England skipper, Bayern Munich avoided a Champions League upset against Lazio and secured a spot in the last eight with a 3-0 victory in the second leg.
Match report
With a double from Harry Kane, Bayern Munich secured a 3-0 victory over Lazio on Tuesday night and advanced to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Lazio started strongly and looked fearless, while Bayern seemed nervous and hesitant.
However, the Italians failed to capitalize on their early dominance, with Ciro Immobile missing a golden chance with his head. That proved to be costly, as Bayern soon punished them with Kane’s 32nd goal of the season - a clinical finish that eased the tension at the Allianz Arena. That gave Bayern the confidence to attack more in the end of the first half, with Thomas Muller cleverly diverting Matthijs de Ligt’s powerful shot into the net to give his team the lead in the tie.
At 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate, Bayern came out of half-time with their familiar flair. It was as if Thomas Tuchel and his team suddenly recalled their legacy in this competition, as well as the potential that has been squandered so often this season. One player who has always been efficient, though, is Kane, and he scored his second after, once again, being the quickest to react to the keeper’s parry. Muller could’ve had a second when he hit the post late on but Tuchel won’t mind, as he dodged a bullet and saw his team reach the last eight in a tournament that might still be his best chance at a trophy this season.
The Man of The Match (MOTM)
Kane was the star of the show, as he often is. He had little involvement in the first half and was cut off as Bayern struggled to get going. But the England skipper stepped up when his team needed him the most, easing the pressure and inspiring them to attack more. His knack for being in the perfect position to score is not luck, as his 33 goals in 33 games would prove. Kane’s efforts keep Bayern’s hopes up, and himself in the running to win his first trophy.
Who is to blame for Lazio loss?
Immobile may not deserve all the blame, but Bayern might have been less assured if he had found the net in the first half. The Italian is known for scoring those kinds of headers but he missed a clear opportunity close to the goal. He was injured by a tackle in the second half but he played on, though he seemed less effective and more lonely as Bayern looked for another goal. A night to regret.
