Robert Lewandoski scored as Bayern Munich reach the Champions League quarter-finals. The striker coolly slotted home a first-half penalty after Leon Goretzka was pushed by Francesco Acerbi. Robert Lewandowski was on the scoresheet again as Bayern Munich cruised into the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a win over Lazio.
Substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting made it 2-0 in the second half with a chipped finish from close range. Lazio got one back through Marco Parolo late on, but Bayern sailed through with a 6-2 aggregate win. Lewandowski, who was replaced by Choupo-Moting with over 20 minutes remaining, had earlier hit the post with an excellent long-range effort in another threatening performance.
His goal – a 13th from the spot in the Champions League – meant Lewandowski has been directly involved in more goals in the competition than any other player – with 20 goals and five assists – since the start of last season.
He looked disappointed to be taken off but Choupo-Moting extended Bayern’s lead when he was played through on goal by David Alaba just 121 seconds after coming on.
Lazio, who fell to a 4-1 defeat in the first leg in Rome, were much better in the second half – Parolo heading in an inch-perfect free-kick delivery for the goal, before Joaquin Correa was inches away from equalising when he slid in at the near post. But Bayern, who dominated possession, could have made it 3-1 on the night when Leroy Sane fooled the defence with a lovely threaded pass for Serge Gnabry, only for him to drag the shot wide.
Defending champions Bayern are now unbeaten in their past 31 home matches in all competitions and will find out their quarter-final opponents in Friday’s draw.
Record 19 for Bayern – the best of the stats
- Bayern Munich have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the 19th time – the most of any team in the competition’s history.
- Lazio have failed to win each of their four away games against German opponents in the Champions League.
- Bayern are now unbeaten in their past 19 games in the Champions League, equalling their longest run of consecutive games without defeat in European Cup/Champions League history – previously a run of 19 between 2001 and 2002.
- Lazio exit the competition having failed to win all four of their away games in the Champions League this season (D3 L1) – the most away games by a side who failed to win any in a single campaign since Manchester City in 2016-17 (also four).
- Including finals, Bayern Munich’s Hans-Dieter Flick is the first manager in Champions League history to win each of his first seven knockout-stage games in the competition.
- At 36 years and 51 days, Lazio’s Marco Parolo is the third-oldest player to score in the knockout stage of the Champions League, after Paolo Maldini (36y 333d) and Ryan Giggs (37y 148d).
Source – BBC News
