Holders Bayern Munich brushed off their recent poor domestic form by throwing down a Champions League marker with an emphatic 4-1 win at Lazio in Tuesday’s last-16 first leg to take a “huge step” towards the quarter-finals.
Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead before 17-year-old Jamal Musiala scored his first Champions League goal on only his fourth appearance in Europe.
Lewandowski’s strike was his 72nd Champions League goal, taking him solo third on the all-time list ahead of Real Madrid great Raul.
While, Stuttgart-born Musiala, who turns 18 on Friday, is now the youngest English goalscorer in Champions League history.
A Leroy Sane strike gave Bayern a three-goal half-time cushion at the Stadio Olimpico before Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal just after the break.
“We are a huge step closer to the quarterfinals,” Bayern coach Hansi Flick told Sky.
Joaquin Correa pulled a goal back early in the second half to give the scoreline some respectability for Lazio.
Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio need a near miracle in the return game in Munich on March 17 to reach the last eight.