Bayern Munich moved closer to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after a commanding 6-1 victory over Atalanta B.C in the round of 16 first leg, handing the Italian side their seventh defeat in eight UCL knockout games.
Bayern started strongly in Bergamo, creating early chances and taking the lead through Josip Stanišić, who tapped home a low cross from Serge Gnabry following a well-worked corner. The German champions continued to control the match, doubling their advantage when Michael Olise fired a left-footed shot into the far corner.
Atalanta struggled under the pressure, soon falling three goals behind. Olise set up Gnabry to score his second, leaving the Italian team on the brink before half-time. Nicolas Jackson also tested Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, who kept the scoreline from becoming more severe.
Bayern extended their lead shortly after the interval as Jackson finished a swift counter-attack following an Atalanta free-kick. Olise scored again to make it five, and Jamal Musiala added a sixth from Jackson’s cross. Atalanta’s consolation came late through Mario Pašalić, but the result leaves Bayern with a comfortable advantage heading into the second leg.
Alphonso Davies suffered a worrying injury during the match, while Bayern now await the winner of the Real Madrid versus Manchester City tie in the quarter-finals. Atalanta faces a near-impossible task to overturn the deficit and progress in the competition.
