Champions League QFs | Man Metropolis thrashes Bayern 3-0; Inter overcomes Benfica

Manchester Metropolis’s Erling Braut Haaland celebrates scoring the crew’s third aim in opposition to Bayern Munich with Julian Alvarez and Rodri within the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League on the Etihad Stadium on April 11, 2023
| Photograph Credit score: Reuters

Rodri struck a surprise aim and Erling Haaland set one other scoring file as Manchester Metropolis beat Bayern Munich 3-0 on Tuesday to proceed their quest for a first-ever Champions League title of their quarter-final first leg.

Haaland, who scored Metropolis’s third aim of the night time within the 76th minute, has 45 targets in all competitions, a single-season file for a Premier League participant, transferring forward of Mohamed Salah and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Rodri put Pep Guardiola’s crew forward within the twenty seventh minute, chopping the ball again to beat midfielder Jamal Musiala and curling a blistering long-range shot into the highest left nook past the outstretched hand of Yann Sommer.

“I know that this Bayern team is special,” stated Guardiola, who managed Bayern from 2013-16. “We got a good result, but we need two strong games. Anything can happen at Allianz Arena. I know that because I was at Bayern for three years.”

Rodri celebrated with an extended knee slide on the rain-soaked turf on the Etihad, whereas Bayern’s new supervisor Thomas Tuchel threw up his arms in disgust en path to his crew’s largest defeat within the Champions League since a 3-0 loss to Paris St Germain in 2017.

“It was very special for me to score my first goal in the Champions League. At that moment we were struggling because they are a great, great team,” Rodri advised BT Sport.

“Sometimes we understand we cannot have 80% possession. They play too. We scored three and could score four but it is a great result.”

What had been an evenly matched sport turned completely in Metropolis’s favour halfway via the second half, and Bernardo Silva scored their second within the seventieth minute, heading in a cross from Haaland. The Norwegian obtained a aim of his personal six minutes later, putting from shut vary.

“This never happens to Bayern Munich but credit to Manchester City, they were brilliant in both boxes,” former Bayern participant Owen Hargreaves stated on BT Sport. “Pep had a game plan and it worked beautifully.”

Sommer had a busy night time and was pressed into motion early, nearly gifting Haaland a aim within the 14th minute. Taking too lengthy to clear the ball, the striker bulldozed in and obtained his foot on the ball two yards from the web, however it flew large.

Metropolis midfielder Ilkay Gundogan had an excellent probability within the thirty fourth minute, however Sommer, who was on the bottom, caught a leg out to avoid wasting what regarded like a sure aim.

Ruben Dias’s flick within the second half regarded certain for the web, however Sommer tipped it over the crossbar. Nevertheless, he was helpless to cease Silva after which Haaland from finishing the win.

Guardiola confronted a well-recognized foe in Tuchel, who was Chelsea supervisor after they triumphed over Metropolis within the closing in 2021.

The Spaniard has received 4 Premier League titles, one FA Cup and 4 League Cups at Metropolis however European success has eluded the supervisor who received the trophy twice when in control of Barcelona.

His confidence shall be excessive that he can finish that drought forward of the second leg, which takes place on April 19 at Munich’s Allianz Area.

“We don’t think it is done. They are a good team and we are happy with the performance but we will have to try to win the game,” Rodri added.

Inter beats Benfica 2-0

Inter Milan struck within the second half via Nicolo Barella and Romelu Lukaku for a 2-0 win at Benfica of their Champions League quarter-final, first leg on Tuesday which put them on target for a primary last-four look since they received the trophy in 2010.

Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring his facet’s second aim through the Champions League quarter closing first leg soccer match between Benfica and Inter Milan at Luz stadium in Lisbon, on April 11, 2023
| Photograph Credit score:
AP

Barella headed dwelling firmly on the again put up within the 51st minute, rising unchallenged to get on the tip of an outstanding cross from centre again Alessandro Bastoni, who was storming up the left facet and delivered a pin-point ball.

Substitute Lukaku then transformed an 82nd minute penalty after VAR referred a handball by Benfica skipper Joao Mario for assessment by English referee Michael Oliver, who gave the spot kick after trying on the video monitor on the facet of the pitch.

The 2 targets hand Inter a significant benefit for the return leg at San Siro subsequent Wednesday, the place they are going to be closely fancied to progress to an all-Italian semi-final in opposition to both neighbours AC Milan or Napoli.