Bayern Munich are through to the Champions League quarter-finals after securing a commanding 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday, completing a dominant 5-0 aggregate victory.
Having already taken a commanding 3-0 advantage in the first leg, Bayern had one foot firmly in the last eight before the return fixture even kicked off.
However, it was Harry Kane’s brilliance that ensured Leverkusen never stood a chance, with the England captain scoring once and setting up another.
The first half ended without a goal, with Leverkusen throwing caution to the wind in search of a lifeline.
Yet, it was Bayern who struck first early in the second period. A deft cross from Joshua Kimmich found Kane, who made no mistake, tapping in to open the scoring for the visitors in the 52nd minute.
With Leverkusen pushing for an equaliser, Bayern sealed the win in the 71st minute. Kane produced a clever chip into the path of Alphonso Davies, who lashed home low and hard to double the lead and extinguish any hopes of a remarkable Leverkusen comeback.
Kane, often criticised for his perceived lack of impact in big matches, was in commanding form once again, following his brace in Munich last week.
The striker’s performance highlighted both his technical finesse and physical presence, as he continued to lead Bayern’s charge towards a potential dream final on home soil — a chance to avenge their 2012 defeat to Chelsea.
Despite missing influential midfielder Florian Wirtz, Leverkusen showed heart and spirit but were ultimately overwhelmed by Bayern’s superior quality.
Coach Xabi Alonso’s side, already trailing Bayern by eight points in the Bundesliga, now faces a difficult challenge to salvage silverware this season, with their only remaining hope being the German Cup, where they are through to the semi-finals.
The tie marked a sharp contrast to a month ago, when Leverkusen dominated Bayern at the BayArena but failed to score. This time, the hosts struggled, as they were forced to play without their talisman Wirtz and were unable to break down a Bayern team that looked in complete control.
After taking heavy criticism for his team selections in Munich, Alonso made several changes, most notably restoring striker Patrik Schick to the starting XI and bringing back goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky.
The Czech forward had the best chance of the first half, heading just wide in the 38th minute, but Leverkusen were unable to build on that opportunity.
Bayern, with Vincent Kompany making just one change to his line-up, had the upper hand from the off. Kane was a constant threat, forcing Hradecky into two brilliant saves within the first 15 minutes.
As the match wore on, Leverkusen’s attacking intent left gaps at the back, and Bayern capitalised. Kane’s clinical finish from Kimmich’s pass dashed any hope of a comeback before he turned provider, laying on the assist for Davies to score Bayern’s second and seal the tie.
With the win, Bayern Munich advance to the quarter-finals, where they will continue their quest for European glory, while Leverkusen’s Champions League hopes come to an end.
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