Manchester City took a huge step towards the Champions League semi-finals as they beat Bayern Munich 3-0 at the Etihad.
In a blockbuster quarter-final tie between the two favourites to go all the way in Europe this season, the deadlock was broken in fitting fashion as Rodri curled a stunning left-footed strike into the top corner.
Bayern responded after the break and pushed for an equaliser as the first leg remained in the balance, but a disastrous spell for Thomas Tuchel’s side saw City take complete control of the tie.
Dayot Upamecano was caught on the ball with 20 minutes remaining and the hosts pounced, Erling Haaland clipping a cross to the back post where Bernardo Silva was free to head home. And Haaland, as ever, then got himself on the scoresheet too, making it 45 goals from the season.
It leaves Bayern, who had won all eight of their matches in Europe this season, with a mountain to climb in Munich next week, and Pep Guardiola’s side remain firmly on course to lift the Champions League for the first time.
The match began at a relentless pace, with chances coming at both ends of the pitch. Haaland sent a tame effort straight at Yann Sommer from the edge of the box, before Jamal Musiala was denied by a brilliant Ruben Dias block.
Tuchel’s pre-match team-talk probably did not include a substantial section on the threat of Rodri’s left foot from 25 yards out, but it proved to be their undoing. The Spaniard turned Musiala and whipped a wonderful finish beyond Sommer for his first Champions League goal.
That gave City a narrow lead going into the break but Bayern responded well early in the second-half. Leroy Sane had a personal battle with Ederson, one that by the end of the night finished four-nil in the goalkeeper’s favour, while Matthijs de Ligt and Kinglsey Coman went close with headers.
There was though, throughout the night, a persistent feeling that Bayern would play themselves into trouble at the back, Sommer not exactly exuding confidence. His best save, from Ilkay Gundogan, came after a weak punch away, while he was very nearly caught on the ball on his own goalline by Haaland.
In the second-half City threatened to exploit that as Sommer and Dayot Upamecano both opted to just stare at the ball as it dribbled towards their box, and so it was no surprise when the second goal came via a large helping hand from the visitors.
Upamecano, who after a confident start to the match completely melted, was caught on the ball by Grealish and this time Bayern were punished, the winger sliding the ball through to Haaland. He stood a cross up to the back post and Silva provided the headed finish.
Sommer produced a smart save to stop Julian Alvarez extending the advantage, but by now any Bayern confidence had long since disappeared and the wait for the third goal was not a long one. John Stones nodded a cross down into the path of Haaland, and he was completely free at the back post to volley home.
Joao Cancelo, on loan at Bayern from City, did not look particularly thrilled to be brought on in the closing stages as the rain continued to pour down, and his mood was not hugely improved by the boos from the home fans, or the jeers that greeted his every touch in the final ten minutes.
He and Bayern will be hoping for a less miserable night at the Allianz next week, but it will have to be a very special one if they are to prevent City marching into the last-four in imperious fashion.
