Robert Lewandowski on target as Bayern Munich beat Lazio to book UEFA Champions League quarter-final place
Robert Lewandowski scored again as Bayern Munich swept Lazio aside 6-2 on aggregate to join Borussia Dortmund in Friday's draw for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League.
With Alexander Nübel in goal for the ill Manuel Neuer, Bayern set about finishing the job against a Lazio side who left out their top goalscorer Ciro Immobile, even though they needed to score at least four goals to stand a chance of progressing. That calculation would only work if Bayern did not add to the four goals they scored in Rome, yet it was the Bundesliga leaders who almost opened the scoring within 10 minutes as Leroy Sane flashed a shot wide of former Bayern goalkeeper Pepe Reina's post. Sane appeared keen on getting his name on the scoresheet first as he sent in Bayern's next shot, again missing the target, before Lewandowski obliged with the opener from the penalty spot after Leon Goretzka was hauled down by Vedat Muriqi.
It was Sane who inadvertently got in the way of Lewandowski's goalbound shot within a minute of the restart, as Bayern sought to turn the screw on the night and in the tie. Lazio, meanwhile, reverted to damage limitation mode, although Lewandowski still found room to strike a low drive against the base of the left-hand post from just outside the penalty area. Nübel was finally given some work to do with 20 minutes left, blocking Joaquin Correa's shot before the offside flag was raised anyway, and it took only a few minutes more for Bayern to double their lead. David Alaba slid a pass through for Choupo-Moting, who showed the composure of the man he had just replaced - Lewandowski - to slot in his second Champions League goal of the season. There was to be a minor blot on the Bayern copybook when the unmarked Marco Parolo headed in from a free-kick, but it was merely cosmetic as the defending champions breezed into the quarter-finals.
Match stats
Lewandowski scored his 39th goal of the season in 35 games in all competitions, and he has scored at least one in each of his last seven outings.
For the ninth successive season, Lewandowski has scored at least five goals in the Champions League.
Flick extended his unbeaten record in the Champions League to 16 games, including 15 wins. Under his guidance, Bayern have scored 54 goals and conceded just 10.
Bayern have scored more goals in the Champions League so far this season (24) than any other side; last season they were the competition's top scorers with 43.
Bayern are through to their ninth Champions League quarter-finals in the past 10 years.
2 - 1
(0 - 0)
Bayern
FINAL
Lazio
Champions League Round of 16 Round of 16 Allianz Arena, Munich
End of second half
90'
+ 1
ADDED TIME
We'll have four minutes of added time at the end of this game.
90'
HUGE CHANCE FOR GNABRY!
It's superb work from Sane, who runs across from the right to slide a through-ball into the Lazio box for Gnabry to latch onto. He hits a first-time shot at goal, but Reina is off his line quickly and makes the save.
89'
INTO THE FINAL MINUTES
Bayern look composed again after a momentary scare with Lazio getting on the scoresheet. The Serie A side aren't giving up at all, pushing on looking for more goals here and a potential draw on the night in Munich.
A free-kick swings deep into the Bayern area and it's Parolo in the right place at the back post who heads home past Nübel. No clean sheet for him in his first Champions League appearance for Bayern.
Bayern are 6-1 up on aggregate here as we enter the final 10 minutes. Choupo-Moting's second Champions League goal of the campaign making sure of that this evening.
A nearly identical break at the other end as Alaba plays Choupo-Moting into the Lazio area. He's in a race with Reina to reach the ball and wins it before curling his shot past the former Bayern 'keeper to make sure of the quarter-final place.
Lazio break through the middle with Luis Alberto sending Correa in on goal. Hernandez forces him to the left but he gets a show away, only for Nübel to make a solid save with his chest before the offside flag is raised.
71'
DOUBLE CHANGE
With their place in the quarter-final almost certainly booked, Flick gives Lewandowski and Müller a rest ahead of Saturday's game against Stuttgart.
Gnabry's burst inside from the left gives him space to find Alaba, who simply lays off Lewandowski for one of his powerful drives at goal from 20 yards. This one beats Reina but cannons back out off the post, hitting Reina and rolling away from goal. That was almost two for the Pole.
64'
DAVIES ON
The Canadian comes on and to the left, with Alaba pushing into midfield and Hernandez into the centre of defence.
Just the one goal separates us tonight, but it's a 5-1 aggregate lead that Bayern have across the two legs. Lewandowski has scored the opening goal in each of the two games.
The home side are doing all the right things here with 30 minutes to go. They've come out of that break in play after Lazarri's injury and have kept the ball for themselves, always looking to push forward but forcing nothing.
The Lazio man is in some serious pain by the sounds of it here and is taking treatment to his hand. He may have to come off here.
52'
ON THE FRONT FOOT
Bayern have started this second half with a spring in their step almost, and a touch more intensity about their attack. Gnabry is inches from getting on the end of Kimmich's ball into the area, but Lulic makes a fantastic clearance.
48'
GORETZKA BOOKED
Lazarri is brought down on the break by Goretzka and he's shown a yellow card.
With Lewandowski's 39th goal of the season in 35 games in all competitions and the seventh game in a row with a goal, Bayern are bound the quarter-finals here. Barring a miracle comeback from the Serie A side, Bayern should join Dortmund in the final eight of the Champions League.
Just one minute of time added on at the end of the first half.
45'
KNOCK FOR FARES
The left-sided midfielder has taken a knock to the knee, but is going to look to continue here at least until the break.
40'
SNOW IS FALLING
It may be mid-March, but there's light snow falling in the Allianz Arena as we approach the half-time break here. A cold night in the south of Germany.
Bayern taking full control here now as Kimmich has a shot blocked from the edge of the Lazio area before Gnabry is brought down in a dangerous position.
33'
LEWANDOWSKI SPOT ON!
Bayern's No.9 does the business as he steps up to the penalty and sends Lewandowski the wrong way, shooting to the left and into the bottom corner. His fifth goal in the Champions League this season from six games and Bayern have a 5-1 aggregate lead.
Once again Sane has possession on the right corner of the Lazio area, but this time there are plenty of bodies for him to pick out in the middle with a cross. He decides to go for goal himself towards the near post, but his low drive doesn't trouble Reina and rolls wide.
26'
RADU BOOKED
The defender flies into a challenge on Lewandowski in midfield and he's given the first card of the game.
After a bit of back and forth with possession, Bayern are beginning to take control once again here, and looking to get Lazio camped in their own half. Still, Reina has yet to be forced into a save with just one shot at goal from Sane.
20'
GOOD CONTEST SO FAR
It's been a competitive game so far in Munich with Lazio not allowing Bayern to dominate the possession so far. Equally, Bayern's defence hasn't allowed much room for manoeuvre when the Italian side come forward.
15'
CLOSE!
A cross into the Bayern area from Luis Alberto finds the run of Milinkovic-Savic, and he gets a header on target in behind Hernandez, but it's a simple save for Nübel.
12'
SANE GOES CLOSE!
The winger is found in space on the right corner of Lazio's box and cuts inside onto his left before firing a shot across goal. Reina can't get near it, but the ball drifts wide across goal. A good opening chance for Bayern.
11'
SHOWING CONFIDENCE
Lazio aren't sitting back in their own half here. The Italian side are showing real confidence and taking the game to Bayern having survived the opening minutes of pressure on their defence. Testing Nübel will be important for them, but so far Bayern are handling their attacks.
8'
A SHOT WIDE OF GOAL
Tidy build-up from the left by Lazio as Correa plays the ball into Muriqi with his back to go on the edge of the Bayern box. He turns and shoots for goal, but drags his low drive wide across goal. Nübel has had a few touches of the ball with passes so far, but no saves to make.
4'
FIRST CHANCE
Bayern have dominated the opening minutes as a cross from the right by Pavard drifts to the back post where Lewandowski is waiting. He heads back down in front of goal, looking for Gnabry, but Acerbi clears in front of goal.
1'
HERE WE GO!
The away side get us underway at the Allianz Arena.
Kick-off!
KICK-OFF COMING UP!
Just a few minutes to go until we're underway in Munich as Bayern look to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
ONLY MESSI AND RONALDO BETTER
Lewandowski became the Champions League’s third highest scorer of all time with his strike in the first leg - his 72nd goal in the tournament, and fourth this term.
FLICK STILL UNBEATEAN
Any thoughts that Bayern won't mind the result tonight as long as they go through can be quickly removed. Flick is unbeaten as a coach in the Champions League, overseeing 14 wins and one draw. Bayern have scored 52 goals and conceded 10 in that time. The defending champions won't want to lose that run.
FLICK ON LAZIO
"We have to put in a good performance because Lazio are a team that can play very good football and they know how to score goals as well. We have to be on our guard and on our game right from the get go.
THE TASK AT HAND
Bayern have a commanding 4-1 win coming into tonight's second leg of the last 16 tie with Lazio. Even a 3-0 defeat tonight would see the Bundesliga side through on away goals, and so Bayern will be confident of making sure of their quarter-final place this evening. It will mean they join Borussia Dortmund in the last eight of the Champions League if they do so.
TEAM NEWS
There's no Neuer in goal for Bayern due to a cold, and so Nübel starts for only the third time in his Bayern career. Alaba has been passed fit after missing the Bremen game and starts in the centre of defence alongside Boateng, with Hernandez ahead of Davies at left-back. Leroy Sane is also recalled on the wing with Coman out. Lazio, meanwhile, have dropped Immboile to the bench, but welcome Radu back in defence. Lucas Leiva is also on the bench for the Italian side.
3:31
CAPTAIN MÜLLER!
Thomas Müller is captaining Bayern Munich in the absence of Manuel Neuer, who misses out with a cold. In 23 Bundesliga appearances this season, Müller has contributed to 23 goals. Here, in one place, are all of his goals and assists in the league this season.
