If the first leg was a demolition, the second was a clinical masterclass. Bayern Munich made sure there was no “Miracle in Munich” for Atalanta, coasting to a 4-1 victory at the Allianz Arena last night. The result puts the Bavarians into the Champions League quarter-finals with a staggering 10-2 aggregate scoreline.
It wasn’t just about the result, though. The night belonged to Harry Kane, who etched his name further into the history books on a night where Vincent Kompany’s side looked arguably like the best team in Europe.
A Landmark for the Captain
Captaining the side in the Champions League for the first time, Kane didn’t take long to make his mark. In the 25th minute, a Giorgio Scalvini handball gave Bayern a penalty. Though Marco Sportiello initially saved the strike, the keeper was judged to have stepped off his line. Kane, never one to miss twice, buried the retake.
That goal was Kane’s 50th in the Champions League, making him the first Englishman to reach the milestone. He did it in just 66 games—a rate of scoring that puts him in the rarified air of Erling Haaland and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The Teenager and the Colombian
Any slim hopes Atalanta harbored of a respectable exit evaporated early in the second half. Kane grabbed his second in the 54th minute with a brilliant 180-degree spin and finish that left three defenders chasing shadows.
Then, the youth took over. Lennart Karl, the 18-year-old sensation, made it 3-0 just two minutes later, becoming the second-youngest Bayern player to score in a UCL knockout match. Not to be outdone, Luis Díaz put the cherry on top in the 70th minute, latching onto a Karl through-ball and dinking it over a helpless Sportiello.
Footnote for La Dea
Atalanta did manage a consolation through Lazar Samardzic in the 85th minute, but by then, the Allianz was already celebrating. For the Italians, it’s a tournament exit they’ll want to forget quickly; for Bayern, it’s a warning shot to the rest of the continent.
Up Next: The draw has been unkind to the neutrals but a dream for the fans—Bayern Munich will face Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. Get the popcorn ready.
