PARIS (AFP) - Robert Lewandowski marked reaching the milestone of 100 Champions League appearances with a hat-trick on Tuesday (Nov 2) as Bayern Munich punched their ticket for the last 16 with a 5-2 home win over Benfica. Lewandowski, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane scored for Bayern at the Allianz Arena while Benfica’s Morato and Darwin Nunez netted for the visitors. Lewandowski, who also had a penalty saved, has now chalked up 81 Champions League goals and 100 appearances since his competition debut for ex-club Dortmund a decade ago. “I never thought I would have so many games with so many goals,” Lewandowski told Amazon. “In the first 20 minutes I hardly got the ball, which makes it hard for a striker to stay patient. “After the first goal, it always goes a bit easier.” Bayern’s fourth straight win in Europe guarantees them a last 16 place with two group games left as they hold a six-point lead at the top of Group E. This was Julian Nagelsmann’s first game back on the Bayern bench as the head coach missed the previous four games after testing positive for Covid-19. “Overall, that was an unbelievably good game from us, better than in the last few weeks,” said Nagelsmann, referring to last week’s shock 5-0 thrashing at Moenchengladbach in the German Cup. “It’s nice not to have to watch it on TV. “We’re qualified for the last 16, that’s a good first step. But then come the knockout games, you have to be on your game again.” Bayern had an early scare when Manuel Neuer was beaten by a Lucas Verissimo header, but replays showed Benfica captain Pizzi was offside. Lewandowski headed Bayern into the lead after Kingsley Coman turned his marker Alejandro Grimaldo, then floated a chip to the back post on 26 minutes where the Poland striker was waiting. A second goal followed six minutes later when Benjamin Pavard lifted his pass over the defence which Lewandowski played to Gnabry, who backheeled past visiting goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. More on this topic Related Story Football: Ronaldo at the double to earn United late Champions League point at Atalanta Related Story Football: Ziyech strike sees Chelsea edge past Malmo in Champions League Yet Bayern didn’t have things all their own way. Morato gave Benfica a lifeline before the break when he met Grimaldo’s cross at the far post. It was the first goal Bayern have conceded in four Champions League games this season. After replays showed a Leon Goretzka shot was blocked by Verissimo’s forearm, Bayern were awarded a penalty but Lewandowski hit a weak shot straight into Vlachodimos’ grateful arms as it stayed 2-1 at the break. Bayern pulled away four minutes into the second half when Sane volleyed in their third goal, set up by winger Alphonso Davies on his birthday – 21 years after he was born in a refugee camp in Ghana. Lewandowski chalked up his second goal when he motored into the area and fired home on 61 minutes. Yet the hosts were guilty of coasting and when Marcel Sabitzer gave away possession, Benfica counter attacked at speed with Darwin Nunez finishing the move to make it 4-2 on 72 minutes. However the night belonged to Lewandowski who wrapped up his hat-trick six minutes from time with a lethal chip after a pin-point accurate long ball from Bayern goalkeeper Neuer. More on this topic Related Story Football: Fati stunner gives Barcelona Champions League win in Kyiv Related Story Football: Dybala double helps Juve secure spot in Champions League knockouts
LISBON (REUTERS) - Bayern Munich struck four times in a frantic 15-minute spell late in the second half to cruise past Benfica Lisbon 4-0 on Wednesday (Oct 20) and make it three wins out of three Champions League Group E matches. Leroy Sane whipped in a fierce free kick in the 70th minute and drilled in his second in the 85th after Benfica substitute Everton headed in an own goal in the 80th and Robert Lewandowski bagged their third goal two minutes later. The Bavarians, with coach Julian Nagelsmann missing with a flu and being replaced by his assistants, had earlier hit the woodwork and also had two efforts disallowed. But Benfica had their share of golden opportunities in an entertaining game before eventually running out of gas after the 70th minute. Bayern, who have now scored 12 goals in their three games and have conceded none, are top of Group E on nine points, with Benfica in second place on four. They are also unbeaten in a record-extending 20 consecutive Champions League away games. "We played a very good game, even in the first half but we could have been a bit better in our finish," double scorer Sane said. "We knew Befica would be aggressive and go to one-on-ones so we just had to be patient and play our game. I have been training these free kicks quite a bit and am happy this one went in. "We are always hungry and that is our strength." Some 14 months after winning the Champions League title there, Bayern, with assistant Dino Topmoeller in charge, returned to Lisbon's Da Luz stadium and went in search of an early goal with chances missed by Sane and Lewandowski. More on this topic Related Story Football: Ronaldo header seals United comeback win over Atalanta in Champions League Related Story Football: Lukaku injury mars Chelsea's Champion's League rout of Malmo Benfica gradually balanced things out and forced Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer, making his 100th appearance in the competition, to a fine save before Lewandowski put the ball in the net just before the break only to have his effort cancelled for hand ball. Benfica keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos then denied them two minutes after the restart, deflecting Benjamin Pavard's powerful shot onto the post. Minutes later Bayern thought they had finally scored when Thomas Mueller tapped in on the rebound after a solo effort down the wing from man-of-the-match Kingsley Coman. But a VAR review ruled out the strike as Coman was deemed to be offside. It was by no means one-way traffic with Neuer again making a superb stop in the 55th, palming a curled Diogo Goncalves shot wide with his left glove. Roman Yaremchuk also came agonisingly close, with his shot a little later sailing just wide of the far post. But it was Sane who broke the deadlock, whipping his 70th minute free kick in before they scored three more times in a rampant finale to remain on course of a spot in the knockout stages. More on this topic Related Story Football: Barca edge past Dynamo to revive Champions League hopes at half-empty Camp Nou Related Story Football: Bayern's Hernandez gets six months' jail for defying restraining order
BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman has undergone surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, the German champions announced on Friday (Sept 17). The 25-year-old French international is expected back in training within two weeks, said coach Julian Nagelsmann. "He had a slightly irregular heartbeat, a minor heart irregularity. We did a long-term ECG and carried out this operation," said Nagelsmann. "He's doing very well and he has little wound pain. Once the wound is healed then he will be able to start with rehab training and it won't be more than 10 days to two weeks before he's back in full training." Coman will miss the next two Bundesliga games against Bochum and Greuther Fuerth while he is also unlikely to feature in Bayern's next Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev. Despite concerns over players' heart welfare following Denmark midfielder Christian Eriksen's cardiac arrest at the European Championship in the summer, Nagelsmann was keen not to exaggerate Coman's condition. "It sounds much more dramatic than it is," said the coach. "It's not so blatant, several people have that," he said in reference to Coman's recent breathing problems. "But it makes a difference whether my greatest effort is to go to the refrigerator and get a cool light beer - or whether I'm a competitive athlete." More on this topic Related Story Football: Lewandowski, Mueller propel dominant Bayern to easy Champions League win at Barca Related Story Football: Bayern Munich beat minnows Bremer 12-0 in German Cup
BERLIN (AFP) - Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored four goals on Wednesday (Aug 25) as Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich thrashed fifth-tier minnows Bremer 12-0 in the first round of the German Cup. The original tie was postponed at the start of August after an outbreak of Covid-19 in the squad of Bremer, who play in Bremen's regional league. Bayern showed their hosts little mercy. They were 8-0 up when Bremer were reduced to 10 men for the last 13 minutes after their defender Ugo Nobile hauled down Bayern replacement midfielder Michael Cuisance, who was through on goal. Even with their star striker Robert Lewandowski and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer both rested, Bayern go into this Sunday's draw for the second round. Choupo-Moting wrapped up his hat-trick within the opening 35 minutes and, having been handed the captain's armband for the second-half, grabbed his fourth and Bayern's 10th in the dying stages. Germany winger Leroy Sane provided Choupo-Moting with simple tap-ins for his first two goals before the Cameroon star headed in his third goal after the host defence failed to clear the danger. Former England youth star and now German international midfielder Jamala Musiala, 18, was involved in two first-half goals, firing home from a tight angle, then flicking the ball past the Bremer goalkeeper, which was helped into the net by defender Jan-Luca Warm for an own goal. It was 5-0 at half-time, but Bayern then added two goals in quick succession when 19-year-old replacement striker Malik Tillman took full advantage of a mistake in the defence before Musiala grabbed his second. More on this topic Related Story Football: Guardiola laughs off Lewandowski question Related Story Football: 'Title hamster' Nagelsmann wants more trophies at Bayern Munich Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann experimented by giving left-back Omar Richards his debut since his free transfer from Reading this summer. American defender Chris Richards, 21, also made a rare appearance for the second half. Having earlier been booed by the Bremen crowd, Sane was given a round of applause when he slotted home the visitors' eighth goal with 25 minutes left. Following Nobile's dismissal, French midfielder Michael Cuisance grabbed a goal of his own, then set up Choupo-Moting for his fourth. Frenchmen Bouna Sarr and Corentin Tolisso tapped in late goals. More on this topic Related Story Football: Lewandowski scores twice as Bayern beat Dortmund in Super Cup Related Story Football: The rise of 'King Kahn' heralds new era at Bayern Munich
BERLIN (AFP) - Robert Lewandowski netted twice as Bayern Munich retained the German Super Cup with a 3-1 win at Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday (Aug 17) in a high-tempo encounter. Lewandowski put Bayern ahead with a bullet header at Signal Iduna Park before Thomas Mueller doubled the visitors' lead to make it 2-0 just after the break. Dortmund captain Marco Reus pulled a goal back when he curled a superb shot inside the post before Lewandowski settled the match. The 32-year-old has now scored 24 goals in as many games against Dortmund, where he spent four years from 2010-2014. "This means a lot to me. We've won our next title and for the spectators it must have been a really cool game to watch," Lewandowski told Sky. "It's something really great for the team which we can enjoy." Bayern have now won all of their last six matches against Dortmund. It was a welcome victory for Bayern, who were winless in four pre-season friendlies before drawing last Friday's opening game of the new Bundesliga season 1-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach. New coach Julian Nagelsmann has earned a trophy, which Bayern also won last year against Dortmund in Munich, with his first win in charge. "We were better than in Gladbach and this is an important win for the lads," said Nagelsmann, who hailed Lewandowski's "exceptional" performance. It was a frustrating game for Erling Braut Haaland and 16-year-old Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who each had goals ruled offside. Both teams wore black armbands out of respect for legendary Bayern striker Gerd Mueller, who died Sunday aged 75. During the warm-up, the Bayern squad wore shirts with Mueller's name and number 9 on the back. Steady rain did little to dampen the electric atmosphere as tempers quickly became frayed, with three yellow cards dished out in the first half. Dortmund had the best early chance when England midfielder Jude Bellingham threaded a pass through the defence to Reus on 20 minutes, but Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blocked the shot with his foot. Moukoko then had the ball in the net on 36 minutes from a Haaland pass, only to be denied by an offside flag. Lewandowski put Bayern ahead four minutes before the break, perfectly timing his run into the box to head home a pin-point Serge Gnabry cross. Bayern extended their advantage four minutes into the second half when Lewandowski failed to connect with an Alphonso Davies cross and Mueller swept in the loose ball. Haaland beat Neuer three minutes later, but his effort was also chalked off. However, Dortmund pulled a goal back when Bellingham spotted Reus in space and he unleashed an excellent strike into the corner with 26 minutes to go. However, Lewandowski ended the tie as a contest, after Bayern capitalised on a rare mistake in the Dortmund defence. Centre-back Manuel Akanji played a lazy pass which was snapped up and worked to Lewandowski, who slotted home, taking the wind out of Dortmund in the 74th minute.
MUNICH, GERMANY (AFP) - Thomas Mueller hailed Bayern Munich's "phenomenal" achievement after they were confirmed Bundesliga champions for the ninth season in a row on Saturday (May 8). Robert Lewandowski grabbed a hat-trick in a 6-0 thrashing of Borussia Moenchengladbach at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Bayern were confirmed champions even before kick-off after Borussia Dortmund's 3-2 win at home to second-placed RB Leipzig earlier in the day sent the title to Munich. "Nine titles in a row, that's crazy. And I was there each time. I'm very grateful for that," said Mueller, 31, who now holds the joint record of 10 Bundesliga titles with team-mate David Alaba. "It shows the development of this club over the years. It's phenomenal, it's a huge amount of work every year with a great team." Head coach Hansi Flick has now won seven titles in 18 months, but will leave to be replaced by RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann next season. "That performance was worthy of champions," said Flick. Mueller scored Bayern's second goal while Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sane also got on the scoresheet alongside Lewandowski, who now has 39 league goals this season, one short of Gerd Mueller's all-time Bundesliga record. "We wanted to show on the pitch that we are German champions," said Lewandowski, who insisted he will "keep stepping on the gas" as he chases Mueller's record with two games left. More on this topic Related Story Football: Bayern Munich win Bundesliga title as Dortmund beat Leipzig Related Story Football: Bayern celebrate title win by demolishing Gladbach Flick says Lewandowski is writing himself into the club's folklore. "Gerd Mueller was my idol when I was young, but what Gerd Mueller was in my youth, Lewandowski is today," he said. "If he manages the record, it will have been more than deserved." Club captain Manuel Neuer admitted it was a "bizarre situation" to be crowned champions while still warming up. "We were just getting ready, there are a few TVs in the dressing rooms," said the Germany goalkeeper. "We realised that we had become champions and started congratulating each other." Thomas Mueller, a one-club wonder who won his first Bundesliga title with Bayern back in 2009/10, said he never dreamed of such success when he joined the Bavarian giants as a schoolboy. "When you play here as a little boy, you don't think you'll ever play in the first team at FC Bayern. You're just happy when you get tickets for home games," he quipped. More on this topic Related Story Football: Five-star Flick raises the bar for next Bayern coach Nagelsmann Related Story Football: Nagelsmann to coach Bayern Munich from next season
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY (AFP) - Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick revealed Saturday (April 17) he wants to quit the Bundesliga leaders even though their 3-2 win at Wolfsburg left the champions seven points clear at the top of the table and on the verge of a ninth straight league title. “I told the team that I informed the club during the week that I want out of my contract at the end of the season,” Flick told Sky amid tensions with sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. “It wasn’t an easy decision for me.” Being released from his Bayern contract would clear the way for Flick to take charge of Germany after Euro 2020. Flick is one of the main candidates to be Germany head coach after Joachim Loew steps down following the June 11-July 11 tournament. He has said taking charge of the German national team is “an option” but he has yet to speak to Germany team director Oliver Bierhoff who will ultimately decide. Flick’s announcement capped a turbulent week for Bayern, who bounced back from their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of PSG on Tuesday. The visitors raced into a 2-0 lead with early goals by Jamal Musiala, 18, and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting. Musiala danced through the Wolfsburg defence to put Bayern ahead after 15 minutes before Choupo-Moting took advantage of a mistake by Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels to stab home the visitors’ second goal. Wout Weghorst pulled a goal back for Wolfsburg, but Musiala made it 3-1 at half-time with a towering header to leave him on four Bundesliga goals this season. Maximilian Philipp gave hosts Wolfsburg hope when he flicked home a cross just after the break. The away win could have come at a price as Bayern defender Lucas Hernandez had to be helped off late on. With five games to go, Bayern can wrap up the league title within a fortnight having extended their lead in the table after Leipzig’s goalless draw with Hoffenheim on Friday. More on this topic Related Story Football: Flick mulls future after Bayern Munich's Champions League exit Related Story Football: PSG beat Bayern on away goals to reach Champions League semi-finals Eintracht Frankfurt crashed to a 4-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach, four days after head coach Adi Huetter confirmed he will leave to coach Gladbach next season. Frankfurt’s defence crumbled and their five-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt as Matthias Ginter, Jonas Hofmann, Ramy Bensebaini and Hannes Wolf netted for the hosts. The Eintracht squad also had to contend with sports director Fredi Bobic announcing in mid-week that he is leaving to manage Hertha Berlin from June 1. Fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund, who host Werder Bremen on Sunday, can trim Frankfurt’s seven-point cushion in the last Champions League place for next season. Union Berlin are now within a point of the European places after their 2-1 home win over Stuttgart. More on this topic Related Story Football: Flick's 10-month path from interim Bayern coach to Champions League final Related Story Football: Bayern in reach of Bundesliga title after edging past pretenders Leipzig Bottom side Schalke have only a mathematical chance of staying up after their 4-0 thrashing at mid-table Freiburg, whose winger Christan Guenter netted twice. Schalke have five games left to bridge the 14-point gap to escape the bottom three. Arminia Bielefeld climbed out of the bottom three thanks to a goalless draw at Augsburg, which pushed Hertha Berlin into the relegation fight. The entire Hertha squad is in quarantine until April 28 and their next three games, starting with Sunday’s away match at Mainz, have been postponed following at least four cases of Covid-19 at the club.
PARIS (AFP) - Paris Saint-Germain knocked holders Bayern Munich out of the Champions League on Tuesday (April 13) despite Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scoring against his old club, as a 1-0 defeat in the second leg at the Parc des Princes could not prevent the French giants from winning a tremendous quarter-final tie on away goals. Neymar twice hit the woodwork for PSG in the first half and Choupo-Moting then put Bayern in front five minutes before the break. But the reigning European champions could not get the second goal they needed after losing 3-2 at home in the first leg last week. PSG have revenge following their 1-0 defeat in last season's final in Lisbon, and the dream of winning a first European Cup remains alive for the Qatar-owned club. Mauricio Pochettino's team, who had already eliminated Barcelona in the last 16, can now look forward to a semi-final against Manchester City or Borussia Dortmund. "I am delighted, despite the defeat. We were facing a great team, the European champions, but we are going back to the semi-finals," Neymar told broadcaster RMC Sport. "We are a real team. The most important thing is that we are through. Now we can aim for something even bigger." Bayern will have to console themselves with trying to win a ninth consecutive Bundesliga title, and will wonder what might have been had the prolific Robert Lewandowski, or Serge Gnabry, been available for the two legs of this tie. The future of coach Hansi Flick will come back into focus, too, given his frosty relationship with the club's sporting director, Hasan Salihamidzic. "It is not because of tonight that we are eliminated," said captain Manuel Neuer. "We deserved our win here, but the result in Munich was not good enough. "It is not all negative. We won the Club World Cup, we have a good chance to win the Bundesliga too, so in the end it will be a positive season." Bayern certainly played their part in an epic tie that will live long in the memory and deserved to be played before a full house both in Munich and here. For all their injuries, their starting line-up was still impressive, and with Thomas Mueller leading from the front and co-ordinating their suffocating press, Bayern took the game to their hosts. That suited PSG, who have produced their best performances this season away from home and could look to hit the Germans on the break with the devastating pace of Kylian Mbappe. The Parisians, to be fair, were without two huge players of their own in captain Marquinhos and playmaker Marco Verratti, but they did have Mbappe and Neymar. Neymar's frustrating night The Brazilian was left frustrated by a combination of Neuer and the frame of the goal in the first half. Twice the Bayern goalkeeper saved from Neymar before the world's most expensive player hit a superb shot off the angle of bar and far post in the 37th minute. On 39 minutes another breakaway finished with Mbappe squaring to Neymar, who this time saw his effort strike the base of the post. Bayern could have been dead and buried, but within a minute of that they were in front on the night. Mueller set up David Alaba for a first-time shot that Keylor Navas saved. The ball looped up to Choupo-Moting and he headed in. The Cameroon forward, who scored once in 10 Champions League appearances across two seasons at PSG, now had his second goal against his old club in this tie. Bayern could have scored again before the break as a thunderous strike by Alaba was stopped by Navas, keeping PSG ahead on away goals. A goal for the home side would have calmed the nerves as they looked to avoid another dramatic exit from the Champions League like so many before over the last decade. Neymar stretched but just could not connect with Di Maria's ball across goal at the start of the second half. PSG lost left-back Abdou Diallo to injury and Bayern continued to push them back, looking for a crucial second goal. Mbappe had an effort disallowed for offside, while another Bayern goal never arrived, and the final whistle was met with roars of delight from the home bench.
BERLIN (AFP) - Bayern Munich took a huge step towards a ninth successive Bundesliga title on Saturday (April 3) as they beat pretenders RB Leipzig 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Leon Goretzka. Goretzka smashed the ball into the top corner shortly before the break as Bayern opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table over second-place Leipzig with just seven games to go. Despite a dominant performance in the second half, Leipzig will now need a near miracle if they are to stop Bayern winning a 30th Bundesliga title in May. Kick-off was delayed by several minutes after Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer found a hole in his goal net, but the Bayern defence remained watertight in the first half despite Leipzig dominating possession. Goretzka blasted in the opener shortly before half-time, hitting a Thomas Mueller cut-back first time to pick up his fifth league goal of the season. Leipzig came out fighting after the break, yet they failed to take their chances as Christopher Nkunku, Marcel Sabitzer and Dani Olmo all flashed shots just wide of the post. Dortmund face 'catastrophe' Elsewhere, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels said his club are facing a "catastrophe" after a 2-1 home defeat to rivals Eintracht Frankfurt left their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread. A late winner from Portuguese striker Andre Silva means Dortmund are seven points adrift of Frankfurt and the Champions League qualification places as they approach the final stretch of the campaign. "Realistically, it's going to be very difficult to finish in the top four, even if we get six or seven more wins," Hummels told Sky after his side slumped to a 10th defeat of the season. He said that missing the top four would be disastrous for Dortmund, who face a fight to hold on to coveted key players such as Erling Braut Haaland and Jadon Sancho in the next transfer window. "Not qualifying for the Champions League would obviously be a sporting and financial catastrophe, and we are close to that now," said Hummels. Frankfurt took the lead through a freakish own goal on 11 minutes, as Nico Schulz sent a looping header into his own net after a cross from Filip Kostic. Hummels hooked the ball in at a corner to level the scores on the stroke of half-time, but the visitors restored the lead on the counter-attack in the dying minutes, Silva heading in from close range after another Kostic cross. Frankfurt are now four points off third-place Wolfsburg, who beat Cologne 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from Josip Brekalo. Dortmund are level on points with Bayer Leverkusen, who eased to a 2-1 win over bottom club Schalke in their first game under new coach Hannes Wolf. Lucas Alario and Patrik Schick struck either side of half-time before Dutch veteran Klaas-Jan Huntelaar grabbed a late consolation goal, scoring for the first time since his surprise return to Schalke in January. Defeat pushed crisis-hit giants Schalke closer to a first relegation in over three decades. Two brutal counter-attack goals from Ruben Vargas and Andre Hahn gave Augsburg a 2-1 win over Hoffenheim, despite a brilliant late half-volley from Robert Skov. In the relegation fight, Mainz's recent revival was halted by a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers Arminia Bielefeld. Bielefeld's Andreas Voglsammer struck 15 minutes from time to cancel out Daniel Brosinski's penalty and keep second-from-bottom Bielefeld within a point of safety.
MUNICH, GERMANY (AFP) - Holders Bayern Munich cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals as a 2-1 win over Lazio in Wednesday's (March 17) last-16 second leg sealed a 6-2 aggregate victory. Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty before a deft chip from his second-half replacement Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting doubled the advantage on the night. Lazio grabbed a consolation when Marco Parolo was left unmarked to head in a late free-kick from close range. Their passage into the last eight sees Bayern better Barcelona's tally of 18 Champions League quarter-final appearances since the competition was rebranded from the European Cup. Snow fell during the game at the Allianz Arena, but Bayern made light work of the wintry conditions. They extended their unbeaten run in the Champions League to 19 games over two years. With his side trailing 4-1 from the first leg, Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi opted to rest top-scorer Ciro Immobile, with the 1.94m-tall Vedat Muriqi starting up front. Bayern had captain and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer sidelined by a cold as understudy Alexander Nuebel made only his third start of the season. Bayern were awarded a penalty on 31 minutes when Muriqi brought Leon Goretzka down in the area. After a VAR review, Lewandowski banged in the resulting spot-kick. It was the Poland star's 39th goal in all competitions this season and fifth in the Champions League. Lewandowski hit the post with Lazio goalkeeper Pepe Reina beaten on 67 minutes. It was one of his last involvements as he and Thomas Mueller made way for Choupo-Moting and 18-year-old Jamal Musiala. Less than two minutes later, David Alaba slid a pass through for Choupo-Moting to sprint onto and flick a shot over Reina. Bayern were guilty of sloppy defending eight minutes from the final whistle when Andreas Pereira's free-kick was headed home by Muriqi's replacement Parolo. Serge Gnabry fired wide late on as Bayern kept Lazio under pressure.
ROME • Holders Bayern Munich brushed off their recent poor domestic form by throwing down a Champions League marker with an emphatic 4-1 last-16, first-leg win at Lazio on Tuesday to move closer towards the quarter-finals. Despite dropping five points in the Bundesliga last week and bringing a depleted squad to Rome - Corentin Tolisso, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Benjamin Pavard were all out - the visitors needed less than nine minutes to breach Lazio's defence. Robert Lewandowski gave the world club champions an early lead to surpass Real Madrid great Raul and become the Champions League's third-highest goalscorer on 72 strikes, behind the 134 goals netted by Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona skipper Lionel Messi, who has 119. German Jamal Musiala, who turns 18 tomorrow, then grabbed his maiden Champions League goal on just his fourth appearance in Europe to become the second-youngest player to score in the knockout stage after Bojan Krkic did so for Barcelona in 2007-08. Leroy Sane's strike gave Bayern a three-goal half-time cushion at the Stadio Olimpico before Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal just after the break. Joaquin Correa pulled a goal back early in the second half to give the scoreline some respectability for Lazio. However, Bayern are now unbeaten in their last 18 Champions League games - 17 have been victories - and the reverse fixture on March 17 appears to be a mere formality. "We were aggressive from the start and went full throttle," Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka said, after making his first appearance since testing positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Club World Cup earlier this month. "I am happy to have played in such an awesome game after a difficult few weeks. That was important after we had often been caught napping (in recent games). "Things worked well, that was a first good step." Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi, whose side suffered their second-heaviest home defeat in Europe after the 4-0 thrashing by Chelsea in 2003-04, could only rue the defensive naivety on display. "Bayern are the world champions," he said. "They definitely did not need our mistakes to make it even easier for them." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
ROME (AFP) - Holders Bayern Munich brushed off their recent poor domestic form to throw down a Champions League marker with an emphatic 4-1 win at Lazio in Tuesday’s (Feb 23) last 16, first leg. Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead before 17-year-old Jamal Musiala scored his first Champions League goal on only his fourth appearance in Europe. A Leroy Sane strike gave Bayern a three-goal half-time cushion at the Stadio Olimpico before Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal just after the break. Joaquin Correa pulled a goal back early in the second half to give the scoreline some respectability for Lazio. However, Simone Inzaghi’s side need a near miracle in the return game in Munich on March 17. Bayern coach Hansi Flick pulled a surprise by starting Musiala in place of Thomas Mueller, who was sidelined after testing positive for Covid-19. Benjamin Pavard was also out with coronavirus, while midfielders Corentin Tolisso and Serge Gnabry were both missing with thigh injuries. Despite dropping five points in the Bundesliga last week and bringing a depleted squad to Rome, Bayern needed less than nine minutes before Lewandowski pounced on a mistake in the Lazio defence. The Poland star snapped up a weak back-pass by Mateo Musacchio – who was subbed off soon after – to dribble around Lazio’s veteran goalkeeper Pepe Reina and fire into an empty net. It was Lewandowski’s 72nd Champions League goal, taking him solo third on the all-time list ahead of Real Madrid great Raul. England Under-21 midfielder Musiala, who has reportedly opted to play for Germany’s senior side, then showed maturity beyond his years to calmy drill past Reina to make it 2-0 on 24 minutes. The lead was extended just before half-time when Kingsley Coman’s shot was parried and Sane tapped in the rebound. There were two goals in the space of three minutes just after the break, with Acerbi turning the ball into his own net as Bayern counter-attacked from a Lazio corner. Lazio were in danger of matching their heaviest home defeat in Europe having lost 4-0 to Chelsea in the 2003/04 group stage. But Bayern’s defence has often crumbled in recent weeks and Lazio forward Joaquin Correa took advantage of poor marking to fire past Manuel Neuer in the 49th minute. Bayern are now unbeaten in their last 18 Champions League games, with only a 1-1 group stage draw at Atletico Madrid last December denying them a perfect record of wins.
SALZBURG • Jerome Boateng hailed Bayern Munich's relentlessness after his first European goal for five years helped extend the team's record run to 14 straight Champions League wins with a comeback 6-2 thrashing of Salzburg on Tuesday. With the scores locked at 2-2, he powered home a Joshua Kimmich corner 11 minutes from time to restore the holders' lead. Leroy Sane, Robert Lewandowski and Lucas Hernandez added late goals to give Group A leaders Bayern a third successive win in this season's competition. Second-placed Atletico Madrid, who drew 1-1 away at Lokomotiv Moscow, have four points, two more than their Russian opponents, while Salzburg are on one point. "It was a difficult game as expected, Salzburg played very well," Boateng told Sky. "We had good and bad phases, especially in the second half, but in the end we got the win we deserved. We never give up - that's what sets us apart." Sane also admitted "we had a harder time than the result suggests" ahead of Saturday's top-of-the-table Bundesliga clash at Borussia Dortmund. Separately, Boateng said the Bayern players are behind David Alaba amid his contract extension stalemate. On Monday, the Austrian defender said he was "hurt and disappointed" to learn through the press that Bayern had withdrawn their latest offer to extend his deal, which expires next June, after protracted wranglings. "Of course it's an issue, but he is focused on the essentials," Boateng, who partnered Alaba at centreback on Tuesday, told Sky. "He put in another great game today and we're behind him." Alaba has been linked to Manchester United and Manchester City. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
MUNICH (AFP) - Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman picked up where he left off last season with two goals in a 4-0 home rout of Atletico Madrid on Wednesday (Oct 21) as the holders got the defence of their Champions League campaign off to a winning start. Coman, whose header settled last season's Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain just 59 days ago in Lisbon, scored Bayern's opening goal, created their second and claimed their fourth behind closed doors at the Allianz Arena. "We played very well, I am very happy with my two goals," Coman told Sky Sports. "The winning goal in last season's final is a good motivator, but it's in the past now and we have fresh goals this season." Coman saved his best for last with a superb effort, turning the Atletico defence inside out before firing home on 72 minutes. Goals by midfielders Leon Goretzka and Corentin Tolisso, who produced an unstoppable long-range strike from outside the box, added to Atletico's misery in Munich. The defeat was the joint heaviest Atletico has suffered under Diego Simeone, rivalling the 4-0 drubbing dished out at Dortmund almost exactly two years ago. "I am very pleased with the win, especially in defence, and we were rewarded for our hard work," said head coach Hansi Flick after Bayern's 12th straight win in Europe dating back to their 2018/19 last 16 defeat to Liverpool. There were nervous moments in the build-up before UEFA confirmed the game could go ahead after Bayern winger Serge Gnabry tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. The rest of the Munich squad tested negative in Wednesday morning's round of testing, but Goretzka later admitted Gnabry's positive test was a "shock". Both sides had clear early chances as Luis Suarez just failed to connect with a low cross from Atletico left back Renan Lodi, while at the other end Bayern centre-back Niklas Suele hit the post. Suarez again fired wide just before Bayern took the lead. Joshua Kimmich, who celebrated the birth of his second child the night before, won the ball, then turned and put a superb pass into the box which found Coman who fired past Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak on 29 minutes. Coman then turned provider when the France winger darted into the area, spotted Goretzka free and the central midfielder beat Oblak to make it 2-0 at the break. Atletico appeared to have pulled a goal back early in the second half when Joao Felix tapped home, but the VAR spotted Suarez offside in the build up. Tolisso grabbed Bayern's third just after the hour mark when he blasted home a thunderous strike after Kimmich's effort had been charged down. Coman capped a fine individual display when he twisted and turned his way past marker Felipe before deftly firing home on 77 minutes. The 24-year-old was almost immediately substituted after helping establish a four-goal cushion with back-to-back away group games at Moscow and Salzburg in the coming weeks.
MUNICH • Thomas Muller can further fuel appeals for him to be recalled by Germany when Bayern Munich launch their Champions League title defence at home to Atletico Madrid today. Having managed a record 21 assists in the Bundesliga last season, he has continued his sparkling form this campaign by scoring five goals and creating four more in all competitions, including two goals in a 4-1 league win at Arminia Bielefeld last Saturday. His latest eye-catching club performance has prompted fresh hopes of a Germany recall for the 31-year-old, who was dropped by Joachim Low from the national set-up last year alongside Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels. Now Bastian Schweinsteiger has joined fellow former Bayern and Germany players Didi Hamann and Lothar Matthaus in calling for the forward to be reinstated. "If I was national coach, Muller as well as Boateng would be in the national side," he told German magazine Kicker. The 36-year-old Schweinsteiger won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil alongside Muller, who knows he still has plenty to offer Germany after 100 internationals and 38 goals. "Everyone can see that I am in good form. Let's just see what happens," Muller told broadcaster ZDF. Bayern will need his creativity against an Atletico side who have conceded just one goal in four La Liga games so far this season. The Bavarians have a perfect record at home against Diego Simeone's side, having twice beaten them in Munich in 2016. Yet Atletico knocked Bayern out in the semi-finals in 2015-16 and the German side remain wary of their Spanish opponents. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer warned that Atletico are a "strong team" who were "uncomfortable" to play against. 7 Thomas Muller has already been involved in seven goals (scoring three plus four assists) in four Bundesliga appearances this season. On Saturday, coach Hansi Flick criticised his team for a poor second-half performance, after individual errors led to a goal for Bielefeld and a red card for Bayern's Corentin Tolisso. They can ill-afford a repeat against Atletico. Joshua Kimmich should bring more stability to Bayern's midfield, with the Germany midfielder expected to return after he missed Saturday's game to be with his wife, who is expecting the couple's second child. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE BAYERN V ATLETICO Singtel TV Ch112 & StarHub Ch216, tomorrow, 2.55am
LONDON • Chelsea manager Frank Lampard believes reigning European champions Bayern Munich are a benchmark for his young players as they target improvements on all fronts ahead of their Champions League opener against Sevilla. Bayern thrashed the Blues 7-1 on aggregate in the last 16 last season before lifting the trophy for the sixth time in August. The Blues are obviously not at that level yet, and are still working out the kinks following their £220 million (S$388 million) splurge in the transfer market, which has yet to pay dividends. However, Lampard has urged his team to use Bayern as the yardstick, insisting there is plenty of untapped potential in his side despite their topsy-turvy form in the Premier League. "It is a great platform to learn because you're playing against the best, and we played against the best in Bayern Munich," Lampard said at his pre-match virtual press conference ahead of today's Group E tie at Stamford Bridge. "We were a young team last year, working a lot to improve, and the Bayern game was a great marker for the young players in the squad to realise the levels that need to be attained. I remember having that myself as a young player. "Of the players we have brought in, some have more Champions League experience than others." Chelsea have added Champions League experience to the squad in the close season with the arrival of defender Thiago Silva and forwards Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech. Three of them have reached at least the last-four stage in the past two seasons and most pundits expect Chelsea and Sevilla to be fighting it out for the top two spots, given that the other teams are debutants Krasnodar of Russia and France's Rennes. However, Lampard is refusing to take their expected progress to the knockout stage for granted, especially as glaring errors have pockmarked their start to the season. "I mentioned before about concentration, focus and discipline and that becomes even more important here than other competitions because of the level of Champions League," he added. "That's what I would always make very clear to the players going into a match against someone of the quality of Sevilla." Likewise, Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta also urged his attacking teammates to pitch in as defending is a "collective" effort. Claiming it would not be possible to outscore their opponents in every game, the Spain right-back said: "When you are weak defensively, sometimes we feel like we have to score three or four goals every game, which sometimes you cannot do, it's a reality. "When we don't score, as a defender, I think how can we put our attacking players in a better situation. Collectively, we have to improve so we all defend together, it doesn't matter our position... at the moment, we have to improve that." However, with first-choice goalkeeper Edouard Mendy out injured, Lampard must choose between error-prone Kepa Arrizabalaga or 39-year-old backup Willy Caballero for the Europa League winners' visit, with neither player inspiring any sort of confidence as the last line of defence. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS CHELSEA V SEVILLA Singtel TV Ch111 & StarHub Ch215, tomorrow, 2.55am