Super Eagles forwards Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella’s Bayer Leverkusen have been knocked out of the Champions League after suffering a crushing 5-0 aggregate defeat to German counterparts, Bayern Munich in the round of 16.
Bayer Leverkusen faced an uphill battle in the second leg, trailing 3-0 from the first leg, where Harry Kane scored twice and Jamal Musiala added another. Their challenge was further complicated by the absence of key player Florian Wirtz, who suffered an ankle ligament injury prior to the match.
Bayer Leverkusen’s attack was severely hampered with Florian Wirtz sidelined, as well as Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface on the bench, resulting in a toothless first-half display where they failed to muster a single shot on target, much to the dismay of the home supporters.
The home side’s woes deepened as Bayern Munich seized the lead just seven minutes into the second half, courtesy of a Joshua Kimmich free kick that found Harry Kane, who expertly controlled the ball before slotting it into an unguarded net, handing the visitors a 1-0 lead and a commanding 4-0 aggregate advantage.
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In a bid to stem the tide, Xabi Alonso made a double substitution, bringing on Victor Boniface and Amine Adli for Arthur and Aleix Garcia. However, Bayern Munich’s dominance persisted, with Harry Kane selflessly setting up Alphonso Davies, who coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner, effectively booking Bayern Munich’s spot in the quarterfinals.
Bayern Munich came close to extending their lead in the 80th minute, as a slick move culminated in Gnabry’s through ball finding Musiala, who struck the woodwork with his shot. Ultimately, the match concluded with a 2-0 scoreline in favor of Bayern Munich, resulting in a 5-0 aggregate victory and Bayer Leverkusen’s elimination from the Champions League round of 16.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League exit shifts their attention to the Bundesliga, where they aim to mount a late title challenge. They also remain in contention for the DFB Pokal, with a semifinal matchup against Arminia Bielefeld on the horizon. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich advances to the Champions League quarterfinals, where they’ll face Inter Milan in a highly anticipated clash.
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