Bayern Munich have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after thrashing Lazio 4-1 in the first leg of their last-16 tie.
Robert Lewandowski, Jamal Muisala, Leroy Sané and an own-goal from Francesco Acerbi sealed the win for the reigning European champions, before Joaquin Correa netted a consolation for the hosts.
Champions League
Here are our main takeaways from the match in Rome …
The holders make a statement
That was seriously impressive from Hansi Flick’s side.
Lazio could not be blamed for going into this game smelling blood at the sense of an upset.
Bayern only travelled with 17 outfield players, had to start Niklas Süle at right-back and were forced into naming teenager Jamal Musiala (more on him later) in the starting line-up.
The Italians had lost just once in their last eight Serie A games but within 25 minutes the game, and probably the tie, was up.
There’s a lot to be said about the hosts’s shoddy defending and when Robert Lewandowski is around you can’t give him an inch.
By half-time Bayern had asserted a dominance, were passing the ball round with ease and as they usually are in this competition, were ridiculously ruthless in the opposition box.
The reigning European champions toyed with Simone Inzaghi’s men in the second half and can already start planning for the quarter-finals.
The history makers
A few pieces of Bayern Munich history were made at the Stadio Olimpico tonight.
Jamal Musiala became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer in the Champions League at the age of 17 years and 363 days.
While that man again Robert Lewandowski continued to make goalscoring strides by jumping above Raúl to move third in the all-time top scorers list.
He is now behind only Lionel Messi (118) and Cristiano Ronaldo (134) and judging by Lazio’s defending he could catch them both up in the second leg.
Number six on the way?
Bayern Munich have found it difficult in the Bundesliga of late, but the Champions League appears to have offered them some relief and respite.
Despite obliterating everyone in their path on the way to their 5th European Cup win in August, not many had the Bavarians down as favourites for this year’s competition.
On this evidence, they’re going to be there or thereabouts in May.
When they can do this without Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry while having to patch up other parts of the squad there is always going to be a chance that they can turn it in enough moments over a two-legged tie.
Their defensive frailties cannot be ignored – they’ve kept just six clean sheets this season – and it was far too easy for Joaquin Correa to walk through to score Lazio’s consolation goal.
But with the ability to score goals like this, who needs defenders?
