Harry Kane scored a career-landmark brace as he helped his side restore Champions League order with a 3-0 win against Lazio on Tuesday night.
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Kane at the double in landmark braceMuller also on target with flicked headerBayern progress with comfortable victoryGetty ImagesTELL ME MORE
Lazio made the better start and immediately looked like the side who had nothing to lose, showing confidence and decisiveness where Bayern looked frozen in fear. But goals change matches and the Italians never got the reward for their early pressure, with Ciro Immobile inexplicably heading wide from close range. That became the pendulum on which this match swung as Bayern soon made the visitors pay. Kane scored his 32nd goal of the season with a typical predatory finish – and the pressure alleviating at the Allianz Arena was palpable. That allowed Bayern's players to push forward in the closing stages of the first half, with Thomas Muller instinctively flicking Matthijs de Ligt's well-struck volley home to put his side ahead in the tie.
At 2-0 on the night and 2-1 on aggregate, Bayern emerged from half-time with their usual swagger. It was as if Thomas Tuchel and his side suddenly remembered their history in this competition, as well as the overall quality that has been wasted so often this term. One man who has rarely been profligate, though, is Kane, and he tapped home his second after, again, being the first to react to the opposition goalkeeper's save. Muller should've had a second when he rattled the post late on but Tuchel won't care, as he avoided a serious scare and saw his side progress to the quarter-finals in a tournament which may yet be his best bet at silverware this term.
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Kane's strikes were his 50th and 51st goals in European football, first tying and then beating Chelsea legend Didier Drogba's record on the continent, which stands at 50.
Getty ImagesTHE MVP
Who else but Kane?! He barely got a touch in the first half and was isolated as Bayern made their shaky start. But the England captain made a crucial contribution when his side needed it most, calming the nerves and allowing them to push on. His ability to be in the right place at the right time is no fluke, as his 33 goals in 33 matches would suggest. Kane's contributions continue to keep Bayern's season alive, and himself in contention to end his dreaded trophy curse.
Getty ImagesTHE BIG LOSER
It seems harsh to pin it all on Immobile, but it's hard to imagine Bayern showing such confidence had he scored in the first half. The Italian has made a career out of putting away those types of headed chances but somehow fluffed his lines mere yards away from goal. He went down under a challenge in the second half but didn't look quite the same despite carrying on, and was increasingly isolated as Bayern pushed for a fourth. An evening to forget.