The present and future of the Champions League combined to lead Bayern Munich over Lazio on Tuesday with Robert Lewandowski scoring his 72nd goal of the competition and 17-year-old Jamal Musiala scoring his first as Bayern prevailed 4-1 in Rome.
You can’t give the world champions anything if you want to last over the course of 180 minutes, but Lazio damned itself as early as the ninth minute after Mateo Musacchio’s suicidal back-pass allowed Lewandowski to collect possession, round Pepe Reina and finish into an empty net.
Musacchio would be mercifully withdrawn with only 31 minutes on the clock.
Lazio gift Lewandowski his 72nd #UCL goal pic.twitter.com/zuPs7zBln5
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 23, 2021
It was a historic moment for the 32-year-old Polish striker, who moved clear of Raúl into third place in the Champions League’s all-time scoring chart.
Most Champions League Goals
#1. Cristiano Ronaldo — 134 goals in 175 appearances (0.77 per game)
#2. Lionel Messi — 119 goals in 148 appearances (0.80 per game)
#3. Robert Lewandowski — 72 goals in 95 appearances (0.76 per game)
#4. Raúl — 71 goals in 142 appearances (0.50 per game)
#5. Karim Benzema — 69 goals in 125 appearances (0.55 per game)
#6. Ruud van Nistelrooy — 56 goals in 73 appearances (0.77 per game)
#7. Thierry Henry — 50 goals in 112 appearances (0.45 per game)
#8. Alfredo Di Stéfano — 49 goals in 58 appearances (0.84 per game)
#9. Andriy Shevchenko — 48 goals in 100 appearances (0.48 per game)
#9. Zlatan Ibrahimović — 48 goals in 120 appearances (0.40 per game)
#11. Thomas Müller — 47 goals in 120 appearances (0.39 per game)
Lazio had a decent shout for a penalty turned away in the 19th minute, but its problems were compounded in the 24th when Alphonso Davies worked his way inside, passed it to Leon Goretzka and he teed up Musiala for his first UCL goal.
The England U-21 attacking midfielder replaced Thomas Müller in the starting lineup as he continues his recovery from Covid-19, and he’s now the second-youngest scorer in Champions League knockout stage history.
17-year-old Jamal Musiala makes his opportunity count. His first #UCL goal. pic.twitter.com/piSOscmzJ7
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 23, 2021
Bayern effectively sealed its place in the quarterfinals with three halves of football still to be played after Leroy Sané made it 3-0 in the 42nd minute. Kingsley Coman did all the hard work in winning possession, driving into Lazio’s third and forcing a save from Reina, but Sané was there to tap in the rebound.
Kingsley Coman does the work and Leroy Sane grabs the rebound.
The defending Champs are not messing around pic.twitter.com/24YrhZjIk4— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 23, 2021
It took all of two second-half minutes for Bayern to go up 4-0. Sané was allowed to break free on the counter, and Lazio defender Francesco Acerbi put the German’s low cross into his own net.
¡Bayern, Bayern, Bayern! El jugadón de Sané
¡En vivo!
@Galavision
https://t.co/yo7dCwknV3 pic.twitter.com/SUJillCpWz— TUDN USA (@TUDNUSA) February 23, 2021
Lazio earned a little self-respect in the 49th minute after Joaquin Correa scored an excellent solo goal, but it proved a moment of Bayern pity more than anything else.
Joaquín Correa giving Lazio hope pic.twitter.com/Z0hw6Kh01d
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) February 23, 2021
The remaining 40 minutes were played at a Bayern Munich-is-through-to-the-quarterfinals pace, because that's what's going to happen despite 90 minutes still to be played at Allianz Arena on March 17.
