Bayern Munich stormed into the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for a record-extending 35th time after a commanding 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena. With this win, the Bavarians sealed a dominant 5-0 aggregate triumph over their Bundesliga title rivals, proving their European pedigree once again.
Bayern Munich Dominate from the Start
Having suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat in the first leg at the Allianz Arena, Bayer Leverkusen faced an uphill battle to overturn the deficit. Only four teams in Champions League history had ever managed to recover from a three-goal first-leg loss to progress, but Xabi Alonso’s side hoped to pull off a miracle against the six-time European champions.
However, from the opening whistle, Bayern asserted their dominance, pushing forward with confidence. Harry Kane, the competition’s top scorer this season, nearly gave his team an early lead within five minutes. The English striker was on the end of a quick attacking move, latching onto a Jamal Musiala cross inside the box. However, Leverkusen captain Jonathan Tah did just enough to prevent him from finding the net, with goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky making a last-ditch save.
Leverkusen responded with a couple of half-chances but struggled to penetrate Bayern’s well-organized defense. Kane forced another save from Hradecky in the 15th minute, before Michael Olise curled a shot inches wide from outside the box, nearly giving the home side a glimmer of hope.
As the first half progressed, Leverkusen grew into the game, with Patrik Schick going close twice before halftime. The Czech forward first sent a header just wide from Granit Xhaka’s cross in the 37th minute before heading into the side netting minutes later. Despite these efforts, Bayern’s aggregate lead remained unchallenged as the teams headed into the break.
Kane Strikes Again to Crush Leverkusen’s Hopes
Leverkusen knew they needed an early second-half goal to stand any chance of pulling off an unlikely comeback, but Bayern had other ideas. The tension in the stadium was evident, with Alonso receiving a booking just two minutes after the restart as frustrations boiled over.
The defining moment of the match arrived in the 52nd minute. A poor clearance from Schick inside his own penalty area sent the ball straight into the path of Joshua Kimmich, who sent in a dangerous cross. Kane was perfectly positioned to capitalize, calmly tapping in his 10th Champions League goal of the season. With that, he became the first English player to score 10 goals in a single European Cup or Champions League campaign, further cementing his reputation as one of Europe’s deadliest forwards.
Goal and an assist for Kane #UCL pic.twitter.com/vm7Qpi66sw
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 11, 2025
With the aggregate score at 4-0, any remaining hope for Leverkusen was extinguished. Bayern kept pushing forward, and Kingsley Coman nearly doubled the lead in the 58th minute, forcing a near-post save from Hradecky.
Alphonso Davies Adds the Finishing Touch
Leverkusen attempted to salvage some pride, with Jeremie Frimpong and Schick both testing Bayern’s stand-in goalkeeper Jonas Urbig. The 20-year-old, making his Champions League debut, handled the pressure well, making crucial saves to preserve Bayern’s clean sheet.
Bayern wrapped up the contest in the 72nd minute with a swift counter-attacking move. Kane, now playing provider, delivered a precise pass into the box for Alphonso Davies, who made a well-timed run to slide the ball into the net. The goal put the final nail in Leverkusen’s European campaign, ensuring Bayern’s safe passage to the quarter-finals.
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Bayern’s European Dominance Continues
This victory marks Bayern Munich’s third consecutive win over Leverkusen, the first time Alonso has suffered such a losing streak since taking charge. The Bavarians’ superior quality and clinical finishing over the two legs highlighted their credentials as serious contenders for the Champions League title.
For Leverkusen, this defeat ended their most promising European campaign in years. Now, their best chance at silverware will come in the DFB-Pokal, with the team also trailing Bayern by eight points in the Bundesliga title race.
Meanwhile, Bayern’s path in the Champions League only gets tougher, as they now prepare to face Inter Milan in a blockbuster quarter-final clash. With Harry Kane in red-hot form and the team firing on all cylinders, the German giants will be confident in their quest for European glory.
