A mammoth UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena ended 4-3 (6-4 aggregate) to the German giants, setting up a clash-of-the-season match-up against Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain.
Stars were on show all over the park across the two teams, from Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé to Bayern wideman Luis Díaz, whose clutch strike all-but sealed the match for his side.
But it was Harry Kane and Michael Olise whose stars shone brightest. Their link-up play, crisp passing, and ultimately, their clinical finishing proved too much for the Spaniards to handle.
Olise’s heartbreaking 90th-minute curler in the top corner was the final nail in the Madridistas’ coffin.
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50 up for Kane
Kane’s assertive side-footed finish in the 39th minute was his 50th goal of the season, cementing his importance for the German side after his move from North London in 2023.
“It is a reward for a lot of the hard work, not just by me but the team,” Kane said of his achievement to TNT Sports. “It would not be possible without the players around me.
“For me, it is just about keeping it going. We still have six weeks left in a Bayern shirt and a World Cup in the summer.
“I just want to stay physically fit and sharp and be able to help the team.
“I feel like whenever I get chances I am able to make the keeper work or get my shots off quickly.
“It was nice to get the goal today but I will do whatever it takes to help the team, scoring goals, assists, defending, I just enjoy being out there with these boys.”
A quarter-final of tight margins
“It was a tough game. We knew it was going to be difficult,” the England captain continued, referring to the game itself.
“Real Madrid and the Champions League have this special connection and you need to be at the highest level to beat them and knock them out. I think we have done that.
“The first half was a little bit crazy. Obviously, getting off to the worst start possible. But we got back into the game well and looked like the team who were more dangerous.
“But they have players on the transition who can really hurt you and that is what punished us.
“In the second half we had to be more patient. We knew as the game went on we would get stronger and fitter and physically better and then we were able to take our chances at the end.”
Bayern Munich head to Paris for their semi-final first-leg clash with Ousmane Dembélé and company on Tuesday, April 28 for an encounter that will no doubt prove to be just as enticing, if not more, as their quarter-final exploits.
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