Harry Kane made Harry-Kane-Saxony, Joshua Kimmich conjured up Bayer Leverkusen. At the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, everything went like clockwork for FC Bayern-only the injury to keeper Manuel Neuer clouded the show.
It was an almost perfect evening for FC Bayern Munich: 3-0 against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16. Two terrific goals from Harry Kane – two of the most important of his Bayern period, as Kane said after the game at DAZN himself. In addition a great Joshua Kimmich, which the contract discussions – at least on the pitch – didn’t seem to tangle. And then completely disenchanting Leverkusener, with a red card, with a serious foul (penalty) and a capital goalkeeper error that Bayern served the first leg victory on the silver platter.
FC Bayern sports director Max Eberl was also entirely the praise after the show that Kane, Kimmich and Co. put down on Wednesday evening: “Today we brought the physical to the square, we brought together together. All together, both defensive and offensive, as a group, all,” enthused Eberl. The Bavarians presented themselves really present and well recorded in the Munich stadium – “and you noticed that: today they just wanted to create a very, very good starting point for the second leg.”
At the goal celebration or sprint? Neuer is injured in 2-0
Joshua Kimmich also seemed delighted by the appearance of his team. In the interview after the game, he looked easy. On the hint that he got grade 1 for his performance, he said with a laugh: “Great!”
Only one thing clouded the end of Bayern: Manuel Neuer had injured himself in the second half. At first it looked as if Neuer had suffered the injury in the 2-0 cheers, but Max Eberl later said that the whole thing happened at the sprint. “The diagnosis is still pending,” said the sports director. “It is something muscular, but I can’t say now: Is it a muscle fiber tear, is it a strain, is it a hardening?”
First mandatory use for Jonas Urbig
In any case, Jonas Urbig, who was hired during the winter break, came to his first competitive game for FC Bayern during the winter break. Not an easy task, as coach Vincent Kompany said: “There are easier games for a debut.” He had experienced the youngster as in the few months before. “Very quiet, very confident,” said the Munich coach, who wanted to shop “zero pressure” on Urbig’s shoulders.
The second leg will take place on Tuesday. Bayern cannot use an injured Manuel Neuer. “We have to go into the second game, we need total focus so that we are good again in the next game,” said Eberl.
And also Kompany had already looked at round two of the duel after the game. When asked whether he feels a “pleasure” after the 3-0 win against the actual fear opponent Bayer, the Belgian laughed and said: “No, not at all”. In any case, his team now has a good starting point. Another little hurdle on the way to the “Finale Dahoam” has been overcome.
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Source: BR24Sport 03.03.2025 – 6:30 p.m.
