Harry Kane’s brace propelled Bayern Munich into the Champions League quarterfinals, securing a 3-0 victory over Lazio on Tuesday. Kane’s goals, his 32nd and 33rd of the season for Bayern, sealed the Bavarian side’s comeback after losing the first leg of the last 16 tie 1-0 in Rome, resulting in a 3-1 aggregate win over two legs.
“It was a perfect night for us,” said Kane, who was named the man of the match.
The win comes as a relief for Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel, who faced speculation about his future following a recent three-game losing streak, including the defeat in Rome. Bayern’s new sporting director, Max Eberl, had assured before the game that Tuchel would remain in charge even in case of a loss.
However, there were concerns that a defeat could hasten the coach’s departure.
Bayern, currently 10 points behind Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, was at risk of facing only its second elimination in 12 appearances at this stage of the Champions League. “If we had been eliminated today, it would have been more than unfortunate,” said Bayern president Herbert Hainer.
Kane opened the scoring in the 38th minute, heading in a cross from Thomas Müller, followed by Müller’s own goal from a corner just before halftime.
Kane secured the victory in the 66th minute, tapping in the rebound after Leroy Sané’s shot was saved by Lazio’s goalkeeper Ivan Provedel. It marked Kane’s sixth Champions League goal of the season.
In midfield, 19-year-old Aleksandar Pavlović impressed Bayern with his precise passing and composed play, while Joshua Kimmich filled in at right back to bolster the team’s injury-hit defense.
Sané returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a knee problem, while forward Serge Gnabry made a late appearance as a substitute, marking his comeback from a thigh injury. Before the game, Bayern’s Club No. 12 fan group organized a striking display depicting Munich’s heraldic figure, underscoring the city’s unity behind the team.
However, amid the fanfare, one Lazio supporter was arrested for making a Hitler salute, highlighting the need for vigilance against such unacceptable behavior.
