FC Bayern have one foot in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League courtesy of a scintillating second-half performance in Munich on Wednesday night. The record champions, with World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Philipp Lahm in their starting line-up, cruised to a 5-1 win against Arsenal and fellow Germans Mesut Özil and Shkodran Mustafi. Carlo Ancelotti’s team now look set to wrap up their place in the last eight when they travel to London for the return leg on 7th March.
Arjen Robben put the Munich side in front after only eleven minutes with a superb left-footed strike, but the Premier League’s top scorer Alexis Sanchez levelled the scored via a penalty rebound on the half-hour mark. The second half belonged solely to FC Bayern though, as a Robert Lewandowski goal and a Thiago brace in the space of just ten minutes put the result beyond doubt. Thomas Müller then came off the bench to wrap up the 5-1 win in the 89th minute, Bayern’s 16th straight home victory in the Champions League.
Kroos leads Real to 3-1 win over Napoli
Defending champions Real Madrid have put themselves in a good position to progress as well, with World Champion Toni Kroos helping them to a 3-1 win over SSC Napoli. That means the Spanish giants are still on course to become the first side to defend their Champions League title.
Lorenzo Insigne put the Italian visitors into a surprise lead after only eight minutes, but Real soon responded through Karim Benzema. Toni Kroos then got his first Champions League goal for the Madrid side early on the in the second half, before Casemiro’s brilliant volley wrapped up the win and gives the La Liga leaders an excellent chance of qualifying for a seventh consecutive quarterfinal.
FC Bayern have one foot in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League courtesy of a scintillating second-half performance in Munich on Wednesday night. The record champions, with World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Philipp Lahm in their starting line-up, cruised to a 5-1 win against Arsenal and fellow Germans Mesut Özil and Shkodran Mustafi. Carlo Ancelotti’s team now look set to wrap up their place in the last eight when they travel to London for the return leg on 7th March.
Arjen Robben put the Munich side in front after only eleven minutes with a superb left-footed strike, but the Premier League’s top scorer Alexis Sanchez levelled the scored via a penalty rebound on the half-hour mark. The second half belonged solely to FC Bayern though, as a Robert Lewandowski goal and a Thiago brace in the space of just ten minutes put the result beyond doubt. Thomas Müller then came off the bench to wrap up the 5-1 win in the 89th minute, Bayern’s 16th straight home victory in the Champions League.
Kroos leads Real to 3-1 win over Napoli
Defending champions Real Madrid have put themselves in a good position to progress as well, with World Champion Toni Kroos helping them to a 3-1 win over SSC Napoli. That means the Spanish giants are still on course to become the first side to defend their Champions League title.
Lorenzo Insigne put the Italian visitors into a surprise lead after only eight minutes, but Real soon responded through Karim Benzema. Toni Kroos then got his first Champions League goal for the Madrid side early on the in the second half, before Casemiro’s brilliant volley wrapped up the win and gives the La Liga leaders an excellent chance of qualifying for a seventh consecutive quarterfinal.
