Bayern Munich kept their Champions League hopes alive with a commanding comeback victory over Lazio, overturning a first-leg deficit to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Rome, the German giants delivered a much-improved performance at the Allianz Arena, inspired by a brace from Harry Kane. Bayern had struggled to break through for much of the opening period, but Kane eased the tension by rising highest to head home and draw the Bavarians level on aggregate.
The hosts grew in confidence after the opener and doubled their advantage before the break, with veteran forward Thomas Müller powering in another header to put Bayern firmly in control of the tie.
Lazio attempted to respond after the restart, but Bayern’s intensity and attacking quality proved too strong. Kane struck again to make it 3-1 on aggregate, reacting quickest after Leroy Sané’s effort was parried into his path to finish from close range and effectively seal qualification.
The victory marks an impressive turnaround for Bayern, who have endured a difficult domestic campaign and are facing the prospect of ending the season without a major trophy for the first time since 2011–12. However, this result keeps alive head coach Thomas Tuchel’s hopes of bowing out on a high note, with the Champions League now representing the club’s last realistic chance of silverware before his departure at the end of the season.
Bayern will discover their quarter-final opponents when the draw is conducted on March 15, as they continue their pursuit of a seventh Champions League title.
