The Südkurve drummers play tribally. Bayern Munich’s players unleashed wave after wave of savage attack, with the Allianz Arena audience shaking and baying.
If you closed your eyes and didn’t think too hard, you could envision better times. That everything would work out.
Naturally, they’re not. Bayer Leverkusen are leading the Bundesliga, coach Thomas Tuchel is leaving in the summer, and a third of his underperforming squad should go.
However, the snatched glimpse at a truncated dream that returns their attention. Bayern remain in Champions League. They have unfinished business and a front four worth wading through snow to watch. Still have Harry Kane.
His 32nd and 33rd goals of the season, along with Thomas Müller’s European performance, advanced them to the quarterfinals. Bayern’s dominance made Lazio appear like the ninth-best team in Serie A.
Bayern may remember the two minutes that changed this tie if they survive the following three rounds and reach Wembley’s royal box.
After Ciro Immobile missed a six-yard free header, Kane headed Bayern ahead when Raphaël Guerreiro’s attempt was scuffed. These are margins and moments. Bayern knows better than anyone that at this point in the season, you take your chances.
Müller scored a second goal before halftime by slotting in Matthias de Ligt’s screaming volley, Kane finished a quick counterattack by tapping in Leroy Sané’s parried attempt, and Bayern could have scored a fourth or fifth.
More crucial was the restoration of their old arrogance—the swagger, calm, and conviction that had been missing recently. Great Bayern teams killed mindlessly. Everyone knew their duties. Everyone knew the outcome.
Despite a slight limp from kicking a box during his pre-match team talk and fracturing his toe, Tuchel noted the players remained focused and disciplined for 90 minutes.
We didn’t do anything insane either; we waited till the spaces opened up and knew when to accelerate and when to take chances. It appeared easier than it was.”
In truth, Lazio were underwhelming here. It was working well for Maurizio Sarri to defend in numbers and counterpunch through Felipe Anderson and Immobile for 130 minutes of this contest.
Once they had to run, they vanished into the night. Anderson was an absolute whirlwind on the right flank and Luis Alberto was their busiest midfielder, yet they had no shots on goal.
A desperate Sarri made a triple replacement on the hour, replacing captain Immobile (206 goals for Lazio in 329 games) with Argentine attacker Taty Castellanos (two goals in 25 games).
This was a sign of Lazio’s struggle to switch gears and win this season. No Serie A team has collected less points from losses this season.
Lazio sought to open the game by moving the full-backs higher and playing more ambitiously into midfield, but something felt odd.
Bayern were back in their comfort zone, winning the ball high and feasting on open areas, despite the spacing and relationships being awry.
Bayern will face stiffer challenges. Too many of their top players, like Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer, are still struggling. De Ligt and Eric Dier look susceptible against fast-moving teams. Hope remains when there is light.
“Nights like this can really change the season,” Kane added. Bayern used this night to recover, turn the page, and dream of being kings again.
