In the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Bayern Munich needed a big performance after their first leg ended in a 1-0 loss to Lazio in Rome. Bayern failed to record a single shot on target against the Italian side in the first leg. For Bayern to advance to the quarterfinals, Tuchel's men needed a convincing performance at Allianz Arena. The German coach had set up the team perfectly to get the 3-0 victory on Tuesday.
In the opening stages of the match, things were not looking any different for the stagnant, lackluster Bayern we have seen in the last few weeks. Winning one game in their last five games seemed to have taken a toll on team morale, and it was distinctly visible in the early stages of the game against Lazio. However, two back-to-back shots on target in the first half saw Bayern come to life.
After the first 20 minutes, Bayern grew into the game and started dominating the proceedings. Possession converted into chances and Bayern players also had their finishing boots on Tuesday as they ended up scoring three goals on the night to win the tie 3-1 on aggregate.
The 24th minute saw Bayern's first solid chance at goal, stemming from a brilliant long pass played by young Aleksandar Pavlovic. Receiving the ball down the left side of the box, Thomas Muller delivered a cross right in front of goal to find the foot of Raphael Guerreiro. Lazio did enough to block the Portuguese full-back's ferocious strike,
The chance for Guerreiro was the turning point for Bayern. Shortly after, Harry Kane broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Muller headed the ball across the box to find Guerreiro after Aleksandar Pavlovic played a delightful cross to find the German forward. Guerreiro scuffed the shot this time, sending the ball straight into the path of Kane to head the ball into the back of the net.
Just eight minutes later, Muller fuelled Bayern's hopes of advancing by doubling the home team's lead on the night. After a Bayern corner was cleared out wide, Matthijs de Ligt attempted a long-range volley to send the ball hurtling towards the goal. Being in the right place at the right time, Muller used his head to direct the ball past the Lazio keeper.
After the second half started, Bayern were playing with a newfound confidence, something that they haven't had in the last few weeks. They made sure Lazio had no route back into the game by keeping things tight at the back without compromising their adventurous play in the final third.
In so many games this season, Bayern would just sit back and wait for the final whistle. However, the approach was different on Tuesday. We saw a side that was striving for more, and more is what they got. In the 66th minute, Kane scored the goal to put the tie beyond Lazio. The English forward scored his 33rd goal in as many games for Die Roten this season. After Leroy Sane's curling shot was parried back into play, Kane was in the right place to triple Bayern's lead and solidify their place in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Bayern Munich players and fans will wait patiently to find out who they will be drawn against next week in the quarterfinals. Tuchel will hope that Bayern's performance on Tuesday will act as a template and springboard for a good run of form and results.