CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Flick and Tuchel joint the party as German bosses set the pace
NYON: Four German team managers will be focused on the draw for the Champions League quarter-finals on Friday. Two of them celebrated their continuance in the competition on Wednesday’s night when Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich saw off Lazio and Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea despatched Atletico Madrid.
The other two – already in place – are Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp and Borussia Dortmund’s Edin Terzic.
Robert Lewandowski was on the scoresheet again as Bayern defeated Lazio 2-1 and 6-2 on aggregate. The world’s No1 player converted a first-half penalty after Leon Goretzka was pushed by Francesco Acerbi.
Substitute Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting made it 2-0 in the second half with a chipped finish from close range. Lazio pulled one back through Marco Parolo late on.
Lewandowski, who also hit a post, has been directly involved in more goals in the competition than any other player – with 20 goals and five assists – since the start of last season.
Defending champions Bayern are now unbeaten in their past 31 home matches in all competitions.
Chelsea march on
Chelsea moved into the quarter-finals for the first time in seven years with a 3-0 aggregate win over Atletico Madrid.
Having established a slender first-leg lead, Emerson Palmieri’s late strike sealed the win after Hakim Ziyech had earlier put the hosts firmly in control with a low effort after good work from Kai Havertz and Timo Werner.
Until then their dominance in possession had not translated into chances in front of goal and in a nervy opening, they also appeared fortunate to survive a penalty appeal after visiting winger Yannick Carrasco was pulled back by Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta.
But Italian official Daniele Orsato waved away the claim and the incident was not examined by VAR.
Atletico knocked Liverpool out of the competition in dramatic fashion at the same stage last term but the LaLiga leaders rarely looked capable of recovering after Ziyech’s goal.
Instead Chelsea, who remain unbeaten in 13 games since Thomas Tuchel took charge, had opportunities to extend their lead before Emerson’s stoppage-time effort and deservedly progressed against an Atletico side that had Stefan Savic sent off late on for elbowing Antonio Rudiger.
The Blues join fellow English clubs Liverpool and Manchester City in the draw for the quarter and semi-finals on Friday.
##############
