Tag: Champions League

Chelsea’s chances of Champions League qualification were dented as Burnley snatched a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, while Aston Villa also struck late to salvage a point against Leeds on Saturday.

The Blues climb into the Premier League’s top four only on goal difference after they paid for failing to build on Joao Pedro’s fourth-minute opener.

Chelsea were dominant until Wesley Fofana was sent off with 18 minutes remaining for a second yellow card.

Burnley took full advantage as Zian Flemming headed in from a corner in the 93rd minute to keep their slim hopes of survival alive.

The Clarets edge to within eight points of safety.

Villa defied the odds to keep pace with Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race until recent weeks, but a 1-1 draw continued their poor run at Villa Park.

Anton Stach’s spectacular free-kick from fully 40 yards (37 metres) at an angle caught out Emi Martinez at his near post to give Leeds the advantage.

Daniel Farke’s men have lost just twice in their last 16 games to relieve their fears of being dragged into a battle for survival.

But Tammy Abraham then snatched a point for Villa two minutes from time.

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Five Premier League sides are set to qualify for next season’s Champions League thanks to the strong performance of English sides in European competition this season.

But Liverpool and Manchester United have the chance to close in when they face Nottingham Forest and Everton in the coming days.

James Milner set a new record of 654 Premier League appearances in Brighton’s 2-0 win at Brentford.

The 40-year-old started for the Seagulls as they secured a first win in seven games to ease the pressure on boss Fabian Hurzeler.

Diego Gomez drilled in the opening goal for the visitors after Ferdi Kadioglu’s stunning strike came back off the bar.

Danny Welbeck then pounced on some slack Brentford defending to double Brighton’s lead just before half-time.

Manchester City can close to within two points of leaders Arsenal when they host Newcastle in Saturday’s 2000GMT kick-off.

The Gunners have breathed new life into City’s title challenge with disappointing draws at Brentford and Wolves since Pep Guardiola’s men last played in the Premier League.

Arsenal are in action on Sunday when they travel to local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.

READ: Flick tells Barca stars to feel ‘responsibility’ after damaging defeats

Patrik Schick scored twice in a four-minute spell to steer Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-0 win at Olympiacos in the first leg of their Champions League knockout play-off tie on Wednesday.

Olympiacos, who beat Leverkusen in the league stage at home last month, were again impressive but were undone by Schick’s quick-fire brace midway through the second half.

“In the first half, it was a difficult match, Olympiacos pressed us with plenty of tempo and made things very complicated for us,” Schick told DAZN.

“In the second half, we improved a couple of things, scored two goals and got an important win.”

Leverkusen’s win puts them in the driver’s seat ahead of next week’s return leg in Germany, with the winners of this tie set to face either Arsenal or Bayern Munich in the last 16.

Wednesday’s victory was remarkably Leverkusen’s first away win in the knockout stage of the competition in their history.

It was also just their second victory in the knockout phase in 13 games dating back to the 2002 final, lost 2-1 to Real Madrid at Hampden Park.

Leverkusen have won six and drawn one of seven matches in all competitions since losing 2-0 to Olympiacos in January.

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In the lead-up to the match, Greek media reported Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, the billionaire shipping magnate who also owns Premier League side Nottingham Forest, promised players a “record” bonus should they make it past Leverkusen.

As if spurred on, the hosts were brilliant early, pinning the Germans back in their own half in a breathless opening 25 minutes.

Leverkusen absorbed the pressure before going close on 28 minutes when Ibrahim Maza forced goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis into an acrobatic save.

Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi turned the ball in from a free-kick just before half-time, but VAR found teammate Mehdi Taremi, who was offside, had touched the ball, ruling out the goal.

The hosts once again pinned the visitors back after the interval, but Leverkusen took their chance to hit on the break on the hour mark.

Ernest Poku won the ball in his own half and advanced goalwards before threading a superb pass to Schick, who guided his strike into the bottom corner.

“I don’t really remember the situation — it was intuition, my movement,” Schick said. “I was one-on-one with the ‘keeper, I stayed calm — it was a good goal.”

The stunned hosts were unpicked again just three minutes later when Alex Grimaldo swung in a pinpoint corner, which Schick headed home to put Leverkusen in a commanding position.

READ: Arsenal blow two-goal lead in damaging Wolves draw

Greek winger Christos Tzolis grabbed a late equaliser for Club Brugge as Atletico Madrid twice let the lead slip in a 3-3 Champions League play-off first leg draw on Wednesday.

Diego Simeone’s side went 2-0 up in the first half, but Brugge fought back to 2-2, and after an own goal allowed the Spanish side to move back in front, Tzolis had the last word in Belgium.

Atletico, who have never won the Champions League, are a long way off the pace in La Liga and consider their best chances of silverware this season to be via a cup route.

However, their poor defending left everything to play for next Tuesday in the second leg, with a last 16 berth at stake.

“We were two up and didn’t know how to hold on to the lead,” Atletico captain Koke told Movistar.

“It was a rollercoaster, like it’s been all season. We have to concentrate more.”

Simeone admitted it was a tricky night against a side that drew 3-3 against Barcelona in the league phase.

“It was a game against possibly the most intense team in the Champions League,” said Simeone.

“The context of the game says that it was a fair draw… we’ve got the second leg at home and we hope to play a great game.”

Atletico took an early lead through a Julian Alvarez penalty after a careless handball by Joaquin Seys.

The striker, whose spot-kick against city rivals Real Madrid in last year’s competition was disallowed for a double touch, leading to Atletico’s elimination, dispatched it emphatically.

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Brugge otherwise had the better of the first half, with Mamadou Diakhon whipping an effort narrowly wide, and Jan Oblak saving from Raphael Onyedika.

But the Belgians found themselves two down at the break.

Ademola Lookman, who has impressed since arriving in January, finished from close range after Antoine Griezmann flicked on Alvarez’s corner.

Brugge halved Atletico’s lead in the 52nd minute when Onyedika tapped home after a superb Oblak save to keep out Nicolo Tresoldi’s header.

Brugge striker Tresoldi was soon on the scoresheet himself to pull the Belgian side level on the hour mark, to the delight of the Jan Breydel stadium, finishing clinically from Diakhon’s cross.

Atletico striker Alexander Sorloth nodded narrowly wide before Joel Ordonez put through his own net to give the visitors the lead again.

However, in the 89th minute, Brugge struck again, with Tzolis played in down the left and finishing well. The goal was initially ruled out for offside but the decision was corrected after a VAR review.

“It was a very interesting game with different phases,” said Brugge coach Ivan Leko.

“Two-nil down against a very strong team… we were in a difficult situation but the team showed great character and quality in our play…

“Atleti will be big favourites but we can play football and we’ll do all we can to progress.”

READ: Kasper Hogh stars as Bodo/Glimt down Inter Milan in Champions League

Bodo/Glimt continued their remarkable debut Champions League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the knockout play-off round first leg on Wednesday, as Kasper Hogh scored once and created two other goals.

The Norwegians only snuck into the knock-out stage with shock victories over Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in their final two league-phase matches.

Kjetil Knutsen’s men backed up those performances by adding last season’s runners-up Inter to their list of scalps.

Cristian Chivu’s Serie A leaders will still be confident of turning the tie around in the second leg at the San Siro next Tuesday, despite struggling on the artificial pitch of the Aspmyra Stadion in northern Norway.

“(Bodo/Glimt) are more accustomed to this pitch, that’s not an excuse,” Chivu said.

“The tie is wide open, there’s the return leg to come. We knew they are a team that can hurt you on the break, now we’ll try to advance to the next round at San Siro.”

To make matters worse for Inter, captain Lautaro Martinez hobbled off and was replaced by Marcus Thuram in the second half.

“I think he’s hurt and he will be out for a while,” Chivu said of Martinez.

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Bodo/Glimt, Europa League semi-finalists last term, have given themselves a chance of securing a major surprise, and a last-16 meeting with either Man City or Sporting Lisbon.

The hosts took a 20th-minute lead with a fine team goal, finished off with aplomb by Sondre Brunstad Fet after he latched onto Hogh’s clever flick inside the area.

But Bodo could not keep their advantage for long as Inter youngster Pio Esposito swivelled inside the box and fired home on the half-hour mark, with the goal surviving a lengthy VAR review for handball.

Inter almost scored in the first minute after the restart when Martinez’s instinctive close-range shot bobbled off the post.

The Norwegians moved back in front in the 61st minute as they caught Inter short at the back, and Jens Petter Hauge rifled the ball into the roof of the net after being teed up by Hogh.

Bodo’s third goal arrived just three minutes later, as Patrick Berg put Ole Didrik Blomberg through on goal with a cute dinked pass, and he squared it for Hogh to tap into an empty net.

Danish striker Hogh has now scored four goals in his last three Champions League appearances following a double against Man City and the winner to defeat Atletico.

Inter pushed to cut the deficit, but Carlos Augusto’s blocked shot from eight yards out was the closest they came despite some late pressure.

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Vinicius Junior scored a sensational goal to earn Real Madrid a 1-0 Champions League play-off first leg victory at Benfica on Tuesday, although the match was marred by apparent racist abuse aimed at the Brazilian.

Having curled a stunning shot into the top corner in the 50th minute, Vinicius argued with Gianluca Prestianni, after which he complained to French referee Francois Letexier, who halted the match for more than 10 minutes as he applied the racism protocol.

Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said Vinicius told his team-mates that Prestianni called him a “monkey”.

“Vini is doing good, calm,” Real Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa told Movistar. “(What happened) is something that nobody likes, you have to ask the Benfica player what he said.

“(Racism) is something we have to eradicate from the world of football and if the players don’t fix it then this is very complicated.”

Benfica coach Jose Mourinho was sent off in the final stages of a spiky game for complaining too vociferously, meaning he will miss the second leg against his former team at the Santiago Bernabeu next week.

Arbeloa’s Madrid earned a narrow and nervy victory at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon to take an advantage into that clash, as well as avenging their dramatic 4-2 defeat by Benfica in the league phase.

That collapse dragged the record 15-time champions down into the play-off round while helping Mourinho’s side reach it by the skin of their teeth.

However, this was a far different affair, with Arbeloa’s Madrid much sturdier than a few weeks ago.

They were bolstered by French superstar Kylian Mbappe’s return after he sat out of their last game because of knee discomfort.

Vinicius, back to his vibrant best since Arbeloa replaced Xabi Alonso at the helm in January, dragged the first good chance of the game inches wide of the far post.

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Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine save to keep out Fredrik Aursnes’s deflected effort from distance as Benfica held their own.

Madrid’s quality began to shine through before the interval, with Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who scored a stunning late goal when the teams met in January, denying Mbappe and Arda Guler.

The Ukrainian stopper could do nothing, though, about Vinicius’s sensational strike after 50 minutes.

On the left of the area, with nothing else on, Vinicius curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner to put Madrid ahead.

The Brazilian was booked for his dancing celebration in front of Benfica’s supporters.

That sparked an exchange with Prestianni, who pulled his shirt over his mouth before seeming to say something to Vinicius.

The Brazilian then ran over to Letexier and, pointing at Prestianni, said that he had been called “mono”, the Spanish word for monkey.

“Vini told us that the guy called him a ‘monkey’ with his shirt (raised over his mouth),” Tchouameni told Movistar later.

The official activated the racism protocol, and Vinicius sat in Madrid’s dug-out, with the game on hold for several minutes.

When the game eventually resumed, Vinicius was jeered by Benfica supporters and was denied three times by Trubin in the minutes that followed.

Mourinho was sent off in the 85th minute as he appealed for a second yellow card for Vinicius, costing him a spot on the bench back at his old hunting ground, where he led Madrid between 2010 and 2013.

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Jose Mourinho condemned his former employers to a ninth-placed finish in the league phase as his Benfica side beat Real Madrid 4-2 in the Champions League on Wednesday, with a stoppage-time header by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin keeping the Portuguese alive in the competition.

A third defeat of the campaign for Madrid, coupled with wins for Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City, meant Madrid missed out on the top eight and will have to play in the two-legged knockout play-off round.

“We knew where we were coming from, what we were coming into, how difficult it would be, and obviously it got the better of us,” new Madrid coach Alvaro Arbeloa told Movistar.

“I think we were far from the level we need to show. I’ve said it these past few days: we’ve got a lot to improve.”

Benfica, on the other hand, will not turn their noses up at the extra games after ‘keeper Trubin sensationally nodded in a 98th-minute goal to snatch the last qualification spot on goal difference.

Earlier, Kylian Mbappe netted a brace as Andreas Schjelderup scored twice and Vangelis Pavlidis converted a penalty for the hosts.

For Mourinho, who coached Madrid between 2010 and 2013, it was a first victory at the second time of asking against his old club since departing them.

“I think it was deserved, really deserved… for Benfica it’s an incredible prestige to beat Real Madrid,” Mourinho said.

Friday’s draw will reveal if Benfica face a rematch against Madrid or 10th-placed Inter Milan, with whom Mourinho won the competition in 2010.

“I can’t say I prefer one or the other because going to Madrid I like a lot and I’ve not gone there, to go to Milan I like a lot, and I don’t go there either,” he said.

“Madrid and Inter are teams that can win the Champions League, and we are a team that at most can do something incredible.”

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Much the livelier side in the opening period, Benfica thought they had a penalty on the quarter-hour when the referee pointed to the spot following a Jude Bellingham challenge from behind on Gianluca Prestianni, but the decision was overturned on review.

Mourinho was left shaking his head again moments later as Prestianni popped up in space on the left of the Madrid box and shaped a fine curling effort for which Thibaut Courtois needed all of his two-metre frame to tip onto the crossbar.

Mourinho’s side soon, however, paid for their profligacy as Mbappe brought his Champions League tally this term to 12 goals with a clinical back-post header on the half-hour.

But next it was Madrid who were made to pay for over-confidence as the Portuguese side caught them desperately short on the counter six minutes after their opener.

Raul Asencio was the only navy-shirted player in the Madrid half as Benfica launched into a counter, but the Spaniard was left slipping and sliding on the turf as Pavlidis went past him and centred for Schjelderup to nod home.

The home side then got the lead their performance deserved after Aurelien Tchouameni was penalised for a shirt pull on Nicolas Otamendi from a corner, and Pavlidis stroked the resulting spot-kick straight down the middle five minutes into stoppage time.

The hosts won the ball and sprang forward on 54 minutes, with Schjelderup supplying another clinical finish after cutting past Asencio on the edge of the box.

Rodrygo Goes replaced the ineffectual Franco Mastantuono in the immediate aftermath, and the Brazilian combined out wide with Arda Guler to set up the unmarked Mbappe, who unerringly fired home from 15 yards in the 58th minute.

The clock ticked into the final 20 minutes with everything still in the balance and Benfica’s presence in the knockout play-offs fluctuating with results elsewhere in Europe.

Aided by Madrid going down to nine as Asencio and Rodrygo received late dismissals, Benfica looked set for heartbreak as they were sitting in 25th place, level on nine points with Marseille but with fewer goals scored.

The Estadio da Luz then erupted deep in injury time as Trubin turned the unlikeliest of heroes as he nodded in from a free-kick to send Benfica through.

“We were lucky to get a set-piece where Trubin, at two metres tall, goes up there and scores a fantastic goal, a historic goal, a goal that nearly brought the whole stadium down — and I think it was very deserved for us,” Mourinho said.

READ: Barcelona rout Copenhagen to reach Champions League last 16

Barcelona came from behind to thrash FC Copenhagen 4-1 and qualify directly for the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday in fifth place of the league phase.

Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha’s second-half goals helped Hansi Flick’s side take control after teenager Viktor Dadason had sent the Danish visitors into a surprise early lead.

Substitute Marcus Rashford sealed Barca’s victory with a free-kick late on, which slipped past Copenhagen stopper Dominik Kotarski.

Five-time Champions League winners Barca struggled to find their rhythm in the first half but did enough after the break to clinch a top-eight league phase finish at a canter.

“We all came here tonight thinking of finishing in the top eight. We’re very happy with the win,” Yamal told Movistar.

“When they score a goal against you in the Champions League, it’s very hard to come back, but the team was strong and pulled it off.”

Flick said he was not impressed with the way his team started the game.

“I was not happy with the first half, but in the end, I think everyone — the fans, also the team is very happy,” said the German coach.

Barcelona knew they needed to win to be confident of swerving the play-off round, but fell behind as early as the fourth minute.

A slack pass by Jules Kounde was intercepted, and Dadason ran in behind Pau Cubarsi before firing past the exposed goalkeeper Joan Garcia.

Spanish champions Barca should have equalised, but Kotarski saved from Lewandowski and then pushed away an Eric Garcia effort.

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The Barca defender came close again with a long-range effort which smashed against the crossbar.

Three minutes into the second half, veteran Polish striker Lewandowski made amends for his first-half miss by pulling Barcelona level.

Dani Olmo played an inch-perfect ball down the right for Yamal, who cut the ball across for Lewandowski to finish.

Teenager Yamal put Barca ahead after an hour with a deflected effort from the edge of the box. His strike hit Elias Achouri and looped high into the air before dropping into the net.

Barcelona made the game safe when Lewandowski won a controversial penalty, going down after minimal contact from Junnosuke Suzuki.

Raphinha took the penalty, with his powerful effort beating Kotarski, who dived the right way.

Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, wrapped up Barcelona’s triumph with a free-kick which Kotarki got down to but could not keep out.

It was the England international’s fifth Champions League goal of the season, and a sixth nearly followed as his drive from distance cracked against the crossbar.

“For me, he’s very important; we need everyone,” said Flick. “When he’s there with his speed, his control and his finishing, it’s amazing to have him.”

Copenhagen, who had a late goal from Gabriel Pereira disallowed for offside, finished 31st and were eliminated from the competition.

To cap a good night for Barcelona fans, they celebrated in the stands when they heard rivals Real Madrid conceded a late goal against Benfica and would not finish in the top eight.

READ: Haaland ends barren run as City reach Champions League last 16

Erling Haaland ended his 10-game wait for a goal from open play as Manchester City beat Galatasaray 2-0 on Wednesday to book their place in the Champions League last 16.

Rayan Cherki was also on target for Pep Guardiola’s men, who took advantage of results elsewhere going their way to sneak into the top eight and avoid a perilous play-off next month.

“With a bit of drama, we did it,” said City captain Bernardo Silva.

“With the schedule, with the amount of injuries we have at the moment, to have those two full weeks to prepare the team, to recover some players, to focus on other competitions for now is going to be really good.”

City know the dangers of the play-off round only too well after being dumped out at that stage by Real Madrid 12 months ago.

A week on from an embarrassing defeat to Bodo/Glimt that put their place in the top eight at risk, Manchester City made amends against a Galatasaray side that will go into the play-offs.

Haaland had been left on the bench by Guardiola for the first time in the Premier League this season for Saturday’s 2-0 win over Wolves.

The Norwegian’s only goal since December 27 prior to Wednesday, had come from the penalty spot against Brighton.

But Haaland showed no signs of a lack of confidence when he nonchalantly lifted the ball over Galatasaray goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir from Jeremy Doku’s fine through ball.

Doku was also the creator of the second goal when he picked out Cherki inside the box to slam low into the corner.

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But the Belgian’s departure soon after, with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, was the one sour note of the night for Guardiola.

“It’s a big miss,” said Guardiola. “Jeremy is such an important player for many reasons.”

With City still in the running for silverware in four competitions, they were desperate to avoid adding two more games to a congested calendar in February.

Marc Guehi was not yet eligible to play in the Champions League, forcing Guardiola to name an experimental defence without centre-backs Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol.

But the Turkish champions failed to seriously test City’s weak spot despite boasting the presence of Victor Osimhen up front.

The Nigerian forced Gianluigi Donnarumma into one stop just after the hour mark, but his shot was too close to the giant Italian.

Guardiola continued to frantically prowl the touchline in the second period, but all the drama was taking place away from the Etihad Stadium to secure City’s place in the last 16.

Real Madrid’s 4-2 defeat at Benfica and a 1-1 draw between Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle saw all three miss the chance to finish ahead of City.

Madrid could await in March as the 15-time European champions are one of City’s four possible opponents in the last 16 alongside Inter Milan, Benfica and Bodo/Glimt.

READ: Salah ends goal drought as Liverpool reach Champions League last 16

Mohamed Salah ended his Liverpool goal drought as the Reds crushed Qarabag 6-0 on Wednesday, booking their place in the Champions League last 16 and easing the pressure on Arne Slot.

Slot’s side overpowered the Azerbaijani underdogs with first-half goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz at Anfield.

Salah scored the third after the break on his club-record equalling 80th Champions League appearance for Liverpool.

It was the Egyptian forward’s first goal for Liverpool since November 1, ending an eight-game drought.

Salah had been dropped during that barren run, prompting him to claim he had been “thrown under the bus” by the club as he painted a bleak picture of his relationship with Slot.

The 33-year-old made peace prior to leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations in December, and Slot will hope his goal sparks a return to form.

Hugo Ekitike notched the fourth before Mac Allister and Federico Chiesa wrapped up Liverpool’s biggest win in all competitions since 2023, ensuring they automatically advanced to the last 16.

As well as avoiding the play-off round, Liverpool’s third-place finish in the league phase gives them the advantage of hosting the second leg of their last 16 tie.

“I’m very pleased. We know we can still improve in both boxes, but it was a very good performance,” Slot said.

“It’s always important to get the early goals to get the crowd on our side. We know we can do even better.”

Mac Allister added, “We skip two play-off games, which is important in a long season like this. We know that in the Champions League, we’ve been better than the Premier League. We need to see the positives.”

Despite being demolished on Merseyside, Qarabag still qualified for the play-offs after finishing 22nd.

Liverpool’s progress to the knockout stages was essential for Slot, who has faced awkward questions about his team’s troubled campaign in recent weeks.

Slot had hit back at criticism of Liverpool’s five-match winless run in the Premier League after last weekend’s 3-2 loss at Bournemouth, insisting it would still be a successful season if they win silverware.

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But Liverpool fans have grown increasingly frustrated with Slot, whose team trail Premier League leaders Arsenal by 14 points despite winning the title last season and then spending around £450 million ($619 million) on new signings.

Slot acknowledged the “noise” around Liverpool was “fair” and impossible to silence unless they do “special things” in the final months of the season.

The Champions League and FA Cup offer hope of fulfilling that ambition.

Virgil van Dijk was Liverpool’s only fit centre-back after Ibrahima Konate and Joe Gomez were ruled out, forcing Slot to start Dutch midfielder Ryan Gravenberch at the heart of his defence.

Slot’s defensive options dwindled even further after just three minutes when the injury-plagued Jeremie Frimpong limped off.

But Liverpool were unfazed and quickly put Qarabag to the sword.

Their issues with free-kicks and corners led Slot to dismiss set-piece coach Aaron Briggs in December.

Lewis Mahoney, promoted to replace Briggs, conjured a corner routine that led to Liverpool’s opener in the 15th minute.

Ekitike flicked on Dominik Szoboszlai’s inswinging delivery, and when Van Dijk couldn’t convert, the ball bounced kindly for Mac Allister to nod home.

Wirtz doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 21st minute with his first Champions League goal since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen last year.

The German playmaker took Ekitike’s pass and, with Qarabag backing off, he had time and space to drill home from 18 yards.

Teed up by Szoboszlai’s back-heel, Salah curled a superb free-kick past Qarabag goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski into the far corner five minutes after half-time.

Ekitike sprinted clear to bag Liverpool’s fourth with a composed finish in the 57th minute.

Mac Allister tapped in the fifth four minutes later before Chiesa slotted in his first goal since September in stoppage time.

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Harry Kane scored twice in three second-half minutes as Bayern Munich saw off Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Bayern joined Arsenal in sealing a top-eight finish in the 36-team table with a game to spare, avoiding a potential two-legged knockout play-off round.

The six-time European champions sit second in the standings behind Arsenal ahead of their last league-phase outing at PSV Eindhoven next week.

Kane headed in from a corner before winning and converting a penalty to put the hosts firmly in control.

The England captain had a chance for a hat-trick but missed a late spot-kick, after Bayern centre-back Kim Min-jae had been dismissed for a second yellow card.

Bayern’s Champions League defeat at Arsenal remains their only loss in all competitions this season, in which they have also already opened up an 11-point lead in the Bundesliga.

Kane’s second goal was his 34th of the campaign, bringing Bayern’s total tally to 103 strikes from 29 games.

Bayern Munich were sluggish in the opening half, perhaps unsettled by the absence of their 9,300-strong ultra contingent, with the lower stand closed due to a UEFA sanction for setting off pyrotechnics.

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The best chance of the opening half fell to Belgian champions Union SG.

With half an hour played, an unmarked Promise David got away from the Bayern defence and had just Neuer to beat, but headed his effort directly at the goalkeeper.

Bayern needed a set-piece to break the deadlock with 52 minutes gone.

Michael Olise lofted the ball into the six-yard area, and Kane found space at the near post to head his side in front.

One minute later, Kane was felled by Union’s keeper Kjell Scherpen and stepped up to double Bayern’s lead.

Kim, handed a rare start with Dayot Upamecano out sick, was sent off in the 63rd minute, picking up a second yellow for yanking Raul Florucz’s arm as the winger went on the attack.

But the red card did not disrupt Bayern’s flow.

Kane uncharacteristically blasted a penalty against the bar with 10 minutes left, while Olise chipped another opportunity over with just Scherpen to beat.

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