Top four and round of 16 secured! Bayern celebrate milestone win

The term ‘Elite Four’ is likely to evoke feelings of nostalgia in one or two gaming and Bayern fans. In the popular video games from the Pokémon world, the highest-grossing media franchise of all time, the 'Elite Four' were a group of coaches you had to compete against in the Pokémon League if you wanted to challenge the champions at the end. The highest league in the real world of Bayern is called the Champions League – and the Munich men have now reached the 'Elite Four' in the league phase. For them, this quartet is just a stepping stone to not only having defeated the champions – as they did with the current winners of Europe's premier club competition Paris Saint-Germain at the beginning of November (2-1) – but also ultimately becoming the kings of this competition themselves.

With the 2-0 home win on Wednesday evening against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, the Bavarians secured their place in the last 16. With 18 points from seven games, they're currently in second place, ahead of Real Madrid and Liverpool (both on 15 points). With Tottenham Hotspur in fifth place and four points behind Bayern with one game left to play, the Munich side have put themselves in a good position for the knockout stages. "It's good because it's not easy to get into the top eight in this format, that's underestimated," said coach Vincent Kompany. "But progressing doesn't decide who wins the Champions League. We'll use the time in February to get the squad ready for the important moments."

Since this season, a new rule has been in force whereby the top four teams in the Champions League league phase enjoy home advantage in the second leg of the round of 16 and in a possible quarter-final. This scenario has proven to be a key advantage in the recent past, especially for FC Bayern, who are strong at home. The top two teams in the league phase would even play the second leg of the semi-final in front of their own fans. Leaders Arsenal, against whom the Munich men suffered their only defeat of the season so far (3-1) at the end of November, are pretty much secure in first place with 21 points and a goal difference of +18 goals. Only Bayern (+13 goals) can knock the Gunners off the top spot with an away win at PSV Eindhoven next week. However, just one point in the Netherlands would definitely be enough for the Bavarians to keep their closest pursuers from Madrid and Liverpool at bay and clinch second place.

Upamecano missing from the squad

However, the team had to fight hard on Wednesday evening against Belgian champions Saint-Gilloise to secure this promising starting position. Dayot Upamecano was a short-notice absentee due to illness. Nevertheless, Michael Olise & Co. went into the match with confidence in freezing temperatures at the Allianz Arena, where the Südkurve (south stand) was closed following a UEFA ban for pyrotechnic use. No other European team had taken more shots on goal (49), converted more big chances (12) or accumulated a higher expected goals value (15.1) than FC Bayern in this Champions League campaign. But there was little of that on display in the first half.

Passing machine Pavlović

The Munich side controlled the game and their opponents from the outset and kept the ball moving. Bayern recorded a total of 916 passes completed after 90 minutes, a feat no other team has achieved this season. Aleksandar Pavlović stood out from this passing machine, with his teammates repeatedly seeking him out. The Germany international successfully completed 150 passes against the Belgians - a new club record in a match in Europe's premier club competition since data collection began in 2003.

So the six-time Champions League winners had plenty of control from the start, with over 70 per cent possession, but the visitors were feisty in the tackle. At the final whistle, the stats showed that Union SG had won 57 per cent of the direct challenges. And that was evident in one or two situations – right from the start. Bayern had their first real chance on two minutes through Luis Díaz, but Saint-Gilloise then got into the game better and launched some dangerous counter-attacks. The Belgians had their best chance of the first half through a Promise David header on 29 minutes, but he was denied by Manuel Neuer. "In the first half, it wasn't that easy for us in terms of our play because we weren't playing tidily and perhaps weren't quick enough, and we weren't as meticulous in our transitions as we usually are," analysed the keeper afterwards. At the other end, Raphaël Guerreiro had a big chance just before half-time (40'), but his header flew over the bar. The teams headed into the break having created just one shot on target each, and the 66,000 spectators used the half-time interval to warm up with some tea.

Olise to Kane – deadlock broken!

Kompany appeared to have found the right words in the Bayern dressing room, as his team showed more drive towards goal in the second half. Harry Kane made it 1-0 in the 52nd minute, the Englishman nodding in a corner from the right by Michael Olise at the near post. That gave Olise his 17th assist in all competitions, at least six more than any other player in Europe's top five leagues.

The action continued at a lively pace. In Pokémon terms, Kane would certainly have had the highest attacking stats of the 22 players on the pitch, and the goal-getter demonstrated this three minutes after his opener. After being fouled by Union keeper Kjell Scherpen in the penalty area, Kane confidently converted from the spot to make it 2-0. His seven Champions League goals this season are surpassed only by Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé (11). "I think the second half was better. In the first half, we were a bit sloppy in possession and didn't have enough energy against the ball. At half-time, it was clear we wanted to come out with more intensity – and that's what we showed," said Kane, who was named Man of the Match. It was his 12th brace in the Champions League and his sixth at the Allianz Arena. Only Robert Lewandowski (nine) scored more braces in Europe's premier club competition in front of his home crowd for FC Bayern.

Second yellow and penalty miss

Even after Minjae Kim had to head off for an early bath after being shown a second yellow card (64'), the Munich men continued to dominate the game and refused to let themselves be thrown off course. On the contrary: Kane (81') and Olise (84') should have added to the tally with two huge chances. Kane missed a penalty for just the second time this season – after the cup match in Wiesbaden – when he hit the crossbar. After a sprint by Díaz, Olise then blasted the ball over the goal from a few metres out. "Despite the red card in the second half, we actually played very well. For me, that was definitely an improvement in performance after the break. The team reacted strongly again," praised Kompany.

His team impressed in the second half with their mental strength and drive to get forward, and that positive feeling still lingers. Joshua Kimmich and his teammates can also celebrate Bayern's 250th victory in the European Cup/Champions League. Only Real Madrid have won more games (307) in Europe's premier club competition. "We mustn't forget we're currently playing every two or three days. We're doing an excellent job overall and winning our games. Today we kept a clean sheet – that balance must also be taken into account," said Kompany. Before their away game at Eindhoven, the Munich men host neighbours FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday (15:30 CET).

Despite playing with ten men for 30 minutes, Jonathan Tah and his teammates kept a clean sheet for the first time in 2026. Up front, they remain confident: this season, FC Bayern have scored at least twice in 28 of 29 games – only in their sole defeat in London did they manage just one goal (3-1). But as mentioned at the beginning, the position at the top in the league phase should only be the start. The Champions League will really gather pace from the round of 16 on 10/11 and 17/18 March.

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