Bayern Beat Leverkusen 3-0 In Champions League Last 16 First Leg

https://www.channelstv.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AFP__20250305__36ZF3YR__v2__Preview__TopshotFblEurC1BayernMunichLeverkusen.jpg

Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday marked their first-ever Champions League tie against Bayern Munich, which included two goals from Harry Kane.

Since Xabi Alonso took over in October 2022, Bayern have won six straight games against the German champions, who looked shellshocked under the Allianz Arena floodlights.

READ ALSO: In Champions League Last-16 First Leg, Liverpool defeated PSG 1-0.

After nine minutes, Kane headed in a lovely Michael Olise cross. Jamal Musiala was in the best position to capitalize on Matej Kovar’s goalkeeping howler, the team’s regular backup, Lukas Hradecky, nine minutes into the second half.

Kovar rose high but wasn’t high enough, allowing a chip from Joshua Kimmich to snag through his fingers. A grateful Musiala tapped home the ball, which was where it was dropped.

German midfielders #10 Florian Wirtz (R) and #06 Joshua Kimmich, both from Bayern Munich, play for the UEFA Champions League on March 5, 2025 in Munich, southern Germany. Tobias SCHWARZ/AFP photo

Nordi Mukiele sunk his studs into Alphonso Davies’ calf eight minutes later, earning a second yellow.

In the box, Mukiele’s replacement Edmund Tapsoba bear gave a bear hug to Kane. Referee Michael Oliver looked up the VAR screen and pointed to the spot after the England captain fell to the ground.

Kane converted in every match since his 2022 World Cup miss against England, setting Bayern on the verge of a win in the tie and preserving the dream of making it to the Munich final this year.

Alonso was captured on camera celebrating by the corner flag as Kane and Bayern celebrated the importance of cool heads on the European stage before the game.

Before the match, Bayern, who were viewed as outsiders by a number of pundits, burst back into form, reaffirming where the balance of power is in German football.

After suffering an injury during the UEFA Champions League last 16 first-leg game between FC Bayern Munich and Bayer 04 Leverkusen on March 5, 2025 in Munich, southern Germany, Bayer Leverkusen’s Spanish defender #20 Alejandro Grimaldo checks on Bayer Leverkusen’s German midfielder #10 Florian Wirtz. Tobias SCHWARZ/AFP photo

After netting a pointless draw in February, Bundesliga champions Leverkusen looked the better team than Bayern, who had already already eliminated Bayern from the German Cup this season.

Alonso chose not to name a striker in this game, leaving Patrik Schick on the bench like he did in the previous match.

Kane, Schick’s counterpart, was on a parlanced run, going without a goal in four games, but he headed an Olise cross just nine minutes in to give Bayern the lead early.

Kovar, who became Leverkusen’s cup keeper in the middle of the year, gave Bayern a second and scored from the spot with a tap into Musiala.

With just 30 minutes left, Bayern even managed to win the match against veteran captain Manuel Neuer, who was then substituted for Jonas Urbig, but Leverkusen was unable to challenge the 21-year-old debutant.