Outstanding Liverpool roared into the Champions League quarter-finals with a mature 3-1 away victory at fellow heavyweights Bayern Munich.
The first goal of a tense tie came before half time at Allianz Arena as Senegal forward Sadio Mane delightfully punished Germany No1 Manuel Neuer’s impetuous charge and slotted into an open goal. The score was levelled on the night, however, soon after when Cameroon defender Joel Matip sliced into his own net.
Last season’s beaten finalists were then imperious after the break and gained double reward. Netherlands centre-back Virgil van Dijk produced a towering header on 69 minutes and Mane nodded in Egypt forward Mohamed Salah’s enticing cross soon after to emphatically kill the two-legged contest.
Here are the Bayern player ratings:
BAYERN (4-2-3-1)
Manuel Neuer 4: Has turned into self-parody. Reckless decision to race out was beautifully punished by Mane.
Rafinha 4: Showed why he is a reserve right-back to the banned Kimmich. Mane enjoyed himself out there.
Niklas Sule 5: Didn’t have the speed to get across and help out Rafinha. Wasn’t at his best.
Mats Hummels 4: Critically outjumped by Van Dijk and Mane. Second half proved Germany set-up right.
David Alaba 5: Helped keep Salah fairly quiet in first half. But when he went on attack, Egyptian ran rampant.
Javi Martinez 7: Bayern’s best performer bossed midfield. But lucky not to see red for Wijnaldum stamp.
Thiago Alcantara 5: Performance mirrored Bayern’s: competitive in first half, invisible in second half. Lacked invention.
Serge Gnabry 5: Threatened to give Robertson another rare off night after teeing up goal. Then disappeared from view.
James Rodriguez 5: On-loan Real Madrid playmaker has had a negligible impact on both legs. Bayern needed him to do better.
Franck Ribery 5: Made a few darts around Alexander-Arnold, but no longer has pace to trouble such an accomplished youngster.
Robert Lewandowski 4: Another for whom Bayern expected much, but received little. Denied goal by Matip’s errant clearance.
100 - Manuel Neuer (@FCBayernEN) is the 4th German player to reach 100 games in the @ChampionsLeague after Philipp Lahm (112), Thomas Müller (105) and Oliver Kahn (103). Centurion. #UCL #FCBLIV #FCBLFC pic.twitter.com/kSqbz6aFN9
SUBSTITUTES
Kingsley Coman 5: Did not improve on countryman Ribery’s paltry efforts.
Leon Goretzka 5: Greater attacking edge was not witnessed.
Renato Sanches N/A: Youngster represented desperate last throw of the dice.
