Bayern Munich ease into Champions League last eight with win over Lazio
Bayern 2-1 Lazio (6-2 agg): Routine progression for the reigning champions
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Your support makes all the difference.Bayern Munich breezed into the Champions League quarter-finals after a comfortable win over Lazio.
The defending champions reached the last eight with a 2-1 victory at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s goal eased them to an 6-2 aggregate win to keep them on course for a seventh title.
Marco Parolo did pull a late goal back for spirited Lazio but they never looked like fighting back from their first-leg defeat.
Leading 4-1 from the first leg after a thumping win in Rome Bayern went for the kill and Leroy Sane bent an effort wide after 13 minutes.
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Bayern have not lost to an Italian side at home for 10 years and the unbeaten streak was never in doubt once the visitors conceded a penalty after 31 minutes.
Vedat Muriqi hauled Leon Goretzka down from a corner and Lewandowski sent Pepe Reina the wrong way from the spot.
It was the striker’s 39th club goal of another prolific season - his 73rd in the Champions League - and gave Lazio too much to do to recover.
There was little fightback from the Italians and Reina stopped them falling further behind when he denied Lewandowski just after half-time.
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Bayern pressed well with former Manchester City wideman Sane a danger on the right and Lewandowski came closer to his second after 67 minutes.
A slick move left the striker free on the edge of the box and his low drive thumped the base of the post.
Alex Nubel saved well from Joaquin Correa from a rare Lazio opening but Bayern made it 2-0 on the night when they sliced through the visitors with 17 minutes left.
David Alaba picked out Choupo-Moting and his clipped finish beat the onrushing Reina.
But Lazio grabbed a consolation with eight minutes left when Parolo headed in Andreas Pereira’s deep free-kick from close range.
Serge Gnabry should have made it 3-1, only to shoot tamely wide after being found by Sane with two minutes left.
PA
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