It was good while it lasted. Bayer Leverkusen didn‘t lost to Bayern Munich since Xavi Alonso became their coach (three wins, three draws) but tonight the Bavarians finally got their win and smashed the Bundesliga champion 3-0 in the first leg of the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Since becoming the coach of Leverkusen, the Spaniard showed his tactical genius, changed formations, frustrated the Bavarians in every single game and generally prepared his matches brilliantly, winning the league without a single defeat. But tonight he totally failed.7 – Harry Kane has now scored 30+ goals in a season for the seventh time in his club career; since the first season he did so (2014-15), only Robert Lewandowski has more 30+ goal campaigns (9) for clubs in Europe’s big-five leagues. Consistency. pic.twitter.com/fT0fs1apP5— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2025 His team looked terrible and without any desire to win, or at least to get a good result at Alianz Arena. His players managed only one shot on target for 90 minutes and his choice of first 11 was also questionable. Kovar started instead of Hradecky and was guilty for the second goal as the ball slipped through his hands. He decided to leave players like Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella and Patrick Schick on the bench in favor of Amine Adli who showed nothing, as well as Florian Wirtz. His reasoning was also questionable in tonight‘s game. When 2-0 down and with no attacking power before that, he still failed to put Schick into the game. The Czech striker came in 10 minutes from time, when the game was over and Bayer had 10 men on the field. His other substitutes were also wrong as Tapsoba came in and eventually conceded the penalty for 3-0 after only seven minutes on the field. Frustration and powerlessness were visible in Bayer‘s team. Granit Xhaka was complaining to his teammates after the first goal, Nondi Mukiele made a stupid challenge even thou he already had a yellow card and both Wirtz and Grimaldo were subbed and sat on the bench visibly annoyed.JAMAL MUSIALA’S GOAL!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/cd002DJnMX— Bayern & Football (@MunichFanpage) March 5, 2025 On the other side was Bayern, experienced in the Champions League and in form. The Bavarians had nine wins in the last 10 Bundesliga games and continued their superb form tonight. Harry Kane has scored seven goals in nine Champions League appearances so far and added two more. Bayern also continued his terrific home streak: they haven’t lost at home in the competition in 22 games, dating back to a quater-final first leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in 2020/21. Bayern also won the last all-German Champions League fixture, beating Jürgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the 2012/13 final.🚨🇪🇺 GOAL | Bayern Munich 3-0 Bayer Leverkusen | Harry KaneHARRY KANE MAKES IT THREE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!pic.twitter.com/NTAHcCh4Vh— Tekkers Foot (@tekkersfoot) March 5, 2025 Kane headed in a lovely Michael Olise cross after nine minutes. Nine minutes into the second, Jamal Musiala was in the perfect spot to capitalize on a goalkeeping howler from Matej Kovar, the usual backup to Leverkusen captain Lukas Hradecky. Kovar rose high but not high enough, allowing a tame Joshua Kimmich chip to slip through his fingers. The ball fell at the feet of a grateful Musiala, who tapped home. Eight minutes later, center-back Nordi Mukiele sunk his studs into the calf of Alphonso Davies, picking up a second yellow. Mukiele’s replacement Edmund Tapsoba bear hugged Kane in the box. After the England captain fell to the turf, referee Michael Oliver consulted the VAR screen and pointed to the spot. Kane converted for the final score, although the home team could make it 4-0 until the end.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – ROUND OF 16First legTuesday Club Brugge – Aston Villa 1-3 (1-1)/De Cuyper 12 – Bailey 3, Mechele 82 (og), Asensio 88 pen/Dortmund – Lille 1-1 (1-0)/Adeyemi 22 – Haraldsson 68/PSV – Arsenal 1-7 (1-3)/Lang 43 – Timber 18, Nwaneri 21, Merino 31, Odegaard 47, 73 Trossard 48, Calafiori/Real Madrid – Atl. Madrid 2-1 (1-1)/Rodrygo 4, Diaz 55 – Alvarez 32/Wednesday Feyenoord – Inter 0-2 (0-1)/Thuram 38, Martinez 50/Bayern – Leverkusen 3-0 (1-0)/Kane 9, 75 pen, Musiala 54/Benfica – Barcelona 0-1 (0-0)/Raphinha 61/PSG – Liverpool 0-1 (0-0)/Elliott 87/
