Bayern Munich 3 – 0 Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich took full advantage of their home turf to secure a dominant 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash. Now, the big question remains—can the Bundesliga champions stage a comeback in the return leg?
Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak against Bayern came to a crashing halt as Xabi Alonso’s side failed to put up a fight on the big stage. The six-time European champions showed their class, securing a commanding win to move closer to the quarter-finals.
Bayern’s Statement Win
On Wednesday night at the Allianz Arena, Bayern took control from the start and never looked back. Harry Kane led the charge with two goals, while Jamal Musiala added another to seal the victory.
Leverkusen struggled throughout the match, pinned down by Bayern’s relentless attacks. The hosts dominated possession and registered 17 shots, with six on target. In contrast, Leverkusen managed just three shots in the first half, with only one on target, and failed to register a single attempt in the second half.
This win marked Bayern’s first victory over Leverkusen in nearly two and a half years. In their last six meetings across all competitions, Leverkusen had won three times, with the other three ending in draws.
Early Pressure Pays Off
Bayern wasted no time imposing themselves on the game. After Leon Goretzka’s initial attempt was saved, they found the breakthrough in the 9th minute. Midfielder Michael Olise delivered a perfect cross, and Harry Kane met it with a powerful header to put the hosts ahead.
Leverkusen had a golden chance to equalize just five minutes later, but Jeremie Frimpong failed to beat Manuel Neuer in a one-on-one situation. Moments later, Musiala’s header rattled the crossbar, denying Bayern an early second goal.
Leverkusen Collapse in the Second Half
The visitors’ hopes of a comeback took a major hit in the 54th minute. A costly mistake from goalkeeper Matej Kovar gifted Bayern their second goal. Joshua Kimmich sent in a cross that Kovar failed to handle, allowing Musiala to tap the loose ball into the net.
Leverkusen’s problems worsened when defender Nordi Mukiele was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a reckless foul on Kingsley Coman. With 10 men on the field, the visitors struggled even more to keep Bayern at bay.
In the 75th minute, Kane sealed the win from the penalty spot. After a VAR review confirmed that Edmond Tapsoba had fouled him inside the box, the English striker calmly converted the penalty, taking his goal tally to nine in this Champions League campaign.
Bayern Confident for the Return Leg
Musiala nearly set up a fourth goal in the dying minutes with a brilliant flick over a defender, finding João Palhinha inside the box. However, the Portuguese midfielder’s powerful shot struck the crossbar, sparing Leverkusen from an even heavier defeat.
With this dominant performance, Bayern will head into the second leg at Leverkusen’s BayArena next Tuesday full of confidence. Now, all eyes will be on whether the Bundesliga leaders can turn things around on their home turf.
