Confidently into quarter-finals: Leverkusen performances offer encouragement for next assignments

You could almost be scared to death if you listened long enough to how Leverkusen talked themselves up in the days leading up to this round of 16 second leg. In the final training session, we heard five reasons why Bayer 04 would absolutely overturn the 3-0 deficit from the first leg. In the press conference, defender Jonathan Tah was even asked about the comeback in the 1988 UEFA Cup final. “I wasn’t even born then,” he said apologetically. And coach Xabi Alonso made one last plea just before kick-off of the second leg at the BayArena. “We don’t need a normal performance today; we need a fire, a passion like never before,” declared the 43-year-old. “We have nothing to lose in our position – only FC Bayern can lose.”

That’s not how it turned out, though. Quite the opposite: the commanding 2-0 away win made it a statement 5-0 aggregate victory over the defending German champions and cup winners, who were previously unbeaten in the last six meetings against Bayern. “To some extent, we’ve maybe restored the balance in German football,” claimed CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, adding: “It’s important to not get cocky and remain grounded.” Inter Milan now await the Bavarians in the quarter-finals after beating Feyenoord 4-1 on aggregate. “It’s a tough nut but one we’re really looking forward to. There are good and bad memories of Milan. We'll take the better ones and look forward to these two legs in April,” continued Dreesen.

'Can't allow chaos'

“We can’t allow chaos,” FCB board member for sport Max Eberl had said in the build-up. A wild confusion, being pressed deep into the defence and thus allowing the pressure, the energy of the crowd and the opponents to grow ever higher – that would probably have been the only thing that could have caused Bayern to falter.

That didn’t happen. Anyone who watched how solid, how confident the visitors were in the return leg could quickly see that there was no room for doubt on this March evening in the Rhineland. The defence in particular, marshalled by Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim, were faultless just like in the first leg. The agile Konrad Laimer intervened with his usual rigour wherever there was even a hint of danger. In defensive midfield, the partnership of Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich worked in harmony. And right at the back, Jonas Urbig, the youngest goalkeeper to start for Bayern in a Champions League match since Stefan Wessels, didn’t put a foot wrong in place of the injured Manuel Neuer. “Jonas exuded a lot of confidence on the pitch and had two or three great moments,” praised Dreesen.

In short, Bayern did the only right thing in this encounter from the start: they didn’t sit back, they didn’t rest on their 3-0 lead, but “finished the job”, as was written on the floor of the away team dressing room.

“Today isn’t about tactics as much, it’s about intensity and heart,” demanded Alonso of his Bayer team, who were without the injured Florian Wirtz. “We need more than tactics, we need hunger, light in us, fire.” Bayern did actually allow the Werkself some room in midfield, only to then pounce on their opponents the closer they got to the penalty area. The Munich men pressed equally hard on the front line, which led to some uncertainty in the hosts’ build-up play. That caused mistakes and the first chances for Bayern, which they couldn’t take advantage of.

“We’re playing each other for the fifth time [this season] today – I’ve almost seen as many Leverkusen games as I have my own team’s,” said head coach Vincent Kompany beforehand. This time, however, nothing surprised his team – rather, Leverkusen soon seemed intimidated and had no chance against Bayern in this meeting. All attempts to take control of proceedings with vigour and physicality, to somehow score an early goal that could have unleashed the aforementioned chaos, came to nothing. Leverkusen didn’t have a single shot on target in the first 45 minutes, even though tactician Alonso started with a recognised centre-forward in Patrik Schick this time. But the goalscorer was frustrated, marked so closely by Kim and Upamecano. “That was a very good performance from us, we defended very well together,” said the French international.

Bayer keeper humble

Unlike the encounter at the BayArena in the Bundesliga a few weeks ago, Bayern dominated the hosts. “We prepared well, we knew we had to be at a top level,” commented Jamal Musiala. “We've played really well twice. The intensity and energy were there until the 90th minute, which we have to take into the next matches.” Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký admitted: “Bayern were clearly the better team, we have to acknowledge that.”

There was still hope of a football miracle for Bayer 04, even if it diminished as the clock ticked. That was then ruthlessly blown out like a candle by Harry Kane after the restart. His goal – his tenth in this European campaign – from Kimmich’s excellent free kick gave FCB a deserved lead on the night. When Alphonso Davies then finished to make it 2-0 after a lightning-fast move involving Serge Gnabry, Goretzka and Kane, it was already game over. The crossbar and the post twice stopped Musiala making it a thumping win for the unleashed Bayern.

Union Berlin all that matters

“A really good display, a special performance from us from the first minute onwards,” said a delighted Kane. “We beat Leverkusen 5-0 over two legs, which represents two very good displays against a very good team.” In this impressive form, the German record champions can confidently look ahead to Inter Milan, who made it through to the quarter-finals thanks to a 4-1 aggregate win over Feyenoord. “We didn't lose the tie today. We lost it in the second half in Munich,” summarised Alonso.

His opposite number from Munich saw it similarly: “I think the boys showed again today how hungry they are, what they want to achieve.” The coach will also make sure that his side stay humble. “We’re all looking forward to Inter now,” added the Belgian, “but from tomorrow it’s only the next match that matters again. And that’s against Union Berlin.”

The reaction to the second-leg victory over Bayer Leverkusen: