MILAN/SALZBURG: Liverpool and Bayern Munich took significant steps towards the Champions League quarter-final after their second round first leg outings – Liverpool winning 2-0 away to Internazionale in Milan and Bayern drawing 1-1 over the border at RB Salzburg.

In the Stadio Meazza substitute Roberto Firmino stretched to Andrew Robertson’s corner to head his side into the lead. Mohamed Salah added a second with a deflected attempt from inside the box which means Jurgen Klopp’s side take a sizeable advantage into the second leg at Anfield on 8 March.

Italian champions Inter hit the bar through Hakan Çalhanoglu and were on top for long periods of the second half before Firmino struck in the 75th minute.

Liverpool scored from their only two attempts on target but will be firm favourites to progress when the two sides meet in the deciding leg next month.

Liverpool have now won seven matches in all competitions, with this arguably the most impressive of the current run.

But Jurgen Klopp’s team had to dig deep as Inter looked the more threatening side after a strong start by the Premier League club.

Former Manchester City forward Edin Dzeko found himself clean through in the first half before a vital challenge by Virgil van Dijk, who was captaining the Reds in the absence of Jordan Henderson.

The hosts went close again when Ivan Perisic whipped in a cross, but Lautaro Martinez was unable to give Inter the lead.

Bayern rescued

Six-time winners Bayern Munich needed a late Kingsley Coman equaliser to avoid a shock last-16 first-leg defeat at an impressive Red Bull Salzburg.

Winger Coman ghosted in at the far post in the 90th minute and converted following Thomas Muller’s flick. Salzburg substitute Chukwubuike Adamu had netted the opener with a delightful curling finish into the corner.

The hosts could have nicked a second at 1-0, but Karim Adeyemi’s shot was saved and Adamu’s follow-up was blocked.

The vibrant home side were appearing in the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time, but did not look out of place against an often flat Bayern side.

The Bundesliga champions suffered a stunning 4-2 home loss against Bochum at the weekend and avoided back-to-back defeats for the first time since 2019.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side cruised through the group stage by winning all six games, but found it difficult to deal with the youthfulness and pace of their opponents.

Salzburg, fielding the youngest average starting side in the Champions League since Ajax in 2003, took the lead on 21 minutes through Adamu’s lovely effort.

Brenden Aaronson cut onto his left and forced a smart save from Sven Ulreich, while Germany international Adeyemi’s effort was straight at the Bayern understudy keeper.

Bayern improved in the second half and Leroy Sane was denied by Philipp Kohn’s sharp save, before Frenchman Coman drew his side level late on.

This week:

CHAMPIONS LGE – 2nd rnd, 1st legs: RB Salzburg 1, Bayern Munich 1; Inter 0, Liverpool 2. TUE: Paris S-G 1, Real Madrid 0; Sporting 0, Manchester City 5

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