Manchester City have taken a huge step towards a third straight Champions League semi-final appearance by belting six-time winners Bayern Munich 3-0.
Goals from Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland put City in control after the first leg at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
Bayern had gone into the game with a 100 per cent record in this season’s competition, with eight straight wins, including victories against Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
But under new coach Thomas Tuchel, the German giants had no answer in the face of City’s attacking power.
The home side took the lead through a wonderful strike from Rodri in the 27th minute.
Just moments after Ruben Dias had blocked a Jamal Musiala effort at the other end, the Spain international cut onto his left foot and swept a curling shot into the top corner from around 20 meters.
Ilkay Gundogan could have doubled the lead shortly after, before the visitors mounted a fightback in the second half with Leroy Sane forcing three saves from Ederson.
But City scored a second after a mistake from Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano, who lost possession deep in his own half.
Jack Grealish passed to Haaland, whose cross was headed in by Bernardo in the 70th.
Haaland then got on the scoresheet himself with his 45th goal of the season when sliding in to convert John Stones’ headed knockdown.
That figure, in just his 39th game, is a record for a Premier League player in all competitions.
This was his fifth goal in seven games against German champions Bayern, having played them regularly with Borussia Dortmund, but he had never beaten them before.
“Every team has to fear this player because he is just a monster. He is a beast, congratulations to Manchester City for signing him,” former Bayern and Germany striker Mario Gomez told BT Sport.
Haaland only touched the ball 28 times, fewer than any other starting player for either team.
“He is the most efficient striker I have ever seen. His goalscoring is out of this world,” said former England midfielder Owen Hargreaves, who played for Bayern and City.
Former City defender Joleon Lescott added: “He is unique. It must be great for the wide players knowing you can put in an area and Haaland will connect.”
In Portugal, Inter Milan ended their six-game winless streak with a 2-0 win at Benfica.
Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku scored second-half goals at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light to give Inter their first victory in more than a month. It leaves the Italian giants in a strong position to reach the semis of the European competition for the first time in more than a decade.
It was Benfica’s first Champions League loss in 13 matches this season, having gone through the third qualifying round and on an unbeaten run to win a difficult group that included PSG and Juventus.
© AAP
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