Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid took huge steps toward the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) with emphatic victories on Tuesday, while Liverpool FC and FC Barcelona were left with work to do ahead of their second-leg encounters.
Bayern delivered a statement performance, thrashing Atalanta BC 6-1 despite starting without star striker Harry Kane. Meanwhile, Atletico exposed Tottenham’s risky tactical decisions to secure a dominant 5-2 victory after racing to a three-goal lead within the opening 15 minutes.
Bayern run riot despite Harry Kane's absence in the UCL
Even without Harry Kane, who has scored 47 goals this season for club and country, Bayern looked unstoppable in Bergamo. The England captain was only fit enough for the bench, but the German champions hardly missed him.
Michael Olise scored twice, while Serge Gnabry and Nicolas Jackson both scored and assisted during the rout. Josip Stanišić and Jamal Musiala also found the net as Bayern put one foot firmly in the last eight.
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Tottenham’s night in Madrid began disastrously. Coach Igor Tudor made the bold decision to drop first-choice goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in favour of debutant Antonín Kinský.
The gamble backfired immediately. Kinský’s slip in the sixth minute allowed Marcos Llorente to open the scoring before Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico’s lead. Another miskick from the keeper gifted Julián Álvarez a simple finish to make it 3-0.
Kinský was substituted in the 17th minute, but the damage had already been done. Vicario came on only to concede again five minutes later as Robin Le Normand made it four.
“We knew how to take advantage of our opponents’ mistakes to gain a good lead,” Álvarez said after the match.
Tottenham eventually rallied, but the heavy deficit means they face an uphill task in the second leg. According to Opta statistics, the defeat also marked the first time in the club’s history that Tottenham has lost six consecutive matches.
Yamal saves Barcelona, Galatasaray stun Liverpool in the UCL quarterfinal
Barcelona avoided defeat at the last possible moment in their clash with Newcastle United. The Spanish side looked destined to lose after Harvey Barnes fired Newcastle ahead in the 86th minute.
However, deep into stoppage time, Malick Thiaw fouled Dani Olmo in the penalty area. Referee Marco Guida pointed to the spot, and 18-year-old Lamine Yamal held his nerve to convert the penalty in the 96th minute, rescuing a dramatic 1-1 draw.
“It wasn’t a great game from us, but we have a young team,” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. “We have to improve, but we have a lot of potential.”
Meanwhile, Galatasaray SK continued their giant-killing run in Europe, securing a 1-0 victory over Liverpool in Istanbul. A seventh-minute header from Mario Lemina proved decisive as the Turkish champions claimed a narrow first-leg advantage.
Galatasaray had earlier stunned Juventus FC with a 7-5 aggregate win in the playoffs and now carries momentum into the return leg at Anfield.
“We want to win there too and reach the quarterfinals,” Lemina said.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot remained optimistic despite the setback. “What I do know is now it’s halftime,” he said. “The next game is at Anfield, and our fans can create a similar atmosphere.”
With the second legs looming next week, the race for the Champions League quarterfinals promises even more drama.
(By PTI Inputs)
