Manchester City thrashed Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals opener. Inter also grabbed a place in the semi-finals.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
Manchester City were rude hosts to Bayern Munich in the opening quarter-finals of the Champions League. City stylized to a 3–0 victory and firmly held on to the semi-final spot.
City’s celebrations started in the 27th minute when Rodrin a superb drive sunk into the top corner. Bernardo Silva gave City a 2–0 lead in the 70th minute when he scored Erling Haaland’s of concentration. Haaland, who is having a great season, sealed the 3–0 victory with his goal in the 76th minute.
Haaland, who broke goal records this season, recorded yet another record with his goal. The hit was his 45th of the season including all competitions, and 11 of these have come in the Champions League. That’s more than any player has achieved in the Premier League era.
City coach Pep Guardiola warned against getting lulled into a certain semi-final spot.
– We got an incredible goal from Rodri, but at the beginning of the second half, Bayern were better and they had chances. After that, however, we tweaked something (in our game) and for the rest of the game we were better. An unbelievable result, but I know what it means to go to Munich (for the second leg). We have to come up with something new for that so that we don’t suffer in front of their wide level there, Guardiola mused to the BBC.
In the second match on Tuesday evening, Benfica lost to Inter 0–2. Nicolo Barella struck in the 51st minute and Romelu Lukaku scored from the penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
The second matches of the match pairs will be played in a week.
Napoli’s goal stick on the side
Italian club Napoli will have to do without their goalkeeper in Wednesday night’s quarter-final against AC Milan Victor Osimhenia.
Osimhene, the top scorer in Italy’s top league Serie A, has not recovered from the thigh injury he suffered while representing Nigeria in the national team games in March.
Osimhene did not take part in Napoli’s training on Tuesday, and the coach does not have his name Luciano Spalletti from the player group for Wednesday’s away game in Milan.
Osimheni’s place in the opening will be taken by the Italian national team member Giacomo Raspadori. Napoli’s leading men are also missing due to injury Giovanni Simeone.
Champions League / Semi-finals, 1st legs
Tuesday’s matches
Benfica-Inter 0–2 (0–0)
51. Barella 0–1
82. Lukaku 0–2 (rp)
Man City-Bayern Munich 3–0 (1–0)
27. Rodri 1–0
70. Silva 2–0
76. Haaland 3–0
Wednesday’s matches
Real Madrid-Chelsea
Milan-Naples
Updated at 00:45: Pep Guardiola’s comments completed.