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Home , Benjamin Pavard, Christopher Jullien

Established 1961 15 Sports Thursday, February 25, 2021 Bayern Munich plot quarter final course by routing Lazio Musiala becomes youngest English goalscorer in Champions League history

ROME: Holders Bayern Munich brushed off their was sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19. recent poor domestic form by throwing down a Benjamin Pavard was also out with coronavirus, while Champions League marker with an emphatic 4-1 midfielders and were win at Lazio in Tuesday’s last-16 first leg to take a both missing with thigh injuries. “huge step” towards the quarter-finals. Robert Despite dropping five points in the last Lewandowski gave Bayern an early lead before 17- week and bringing a depleted squad to Rome, Bayern year-old scored his first Champions needed less than nine minutes before Lewandowski League goal on only his fourth appearance in pounced on a mistake in the Lazio defense. The Europe. Poland star snapped up a weak back-pass by Mateo Stuttgart-born Musiala, who turns 18 tomorrow, is Musacchio — who was subbed off soon after — to now the youngest English goalscorer in Champions dribble around Lazio’s veteran goalkeeper Pepe League history. A Leroy Sane strike gave Bayern a Reina and fire into an empty net. three-goal half-time cushion at the Stadio Olimpico before Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal just Lewandowski passes Raul after the break. “We are a huge step closer to the It was Lewandowski’s 72nd Champions League quarter-finals,” Bayern coach told Sky. goal, taking him solo third on the all-time list ahead Joaquin Correa pulled a goal back early in the of Real Madrid great Raul. England Under-21 mid- second half to give the scoreline some respectability fielder Musiala, who has reportedly opted to play for for Lazio. “We were aggressive from the start and Germany’s senior side, then showed maturity beyond went full throttle,” Bayern midfielder his years to calmly drill past Reina to make it 2-0 on said after his first appearance since testing positive 24 minutes. The lead was extended just before half- for COVID-19. “I am happy to have played in such an time when ’s shot was parried and awesome game after a difficult few weeks. “That was Sane tapped in the rebound. “We wanted to show we important after we had often been caught napping (in were switched on from the first minute, we took our ROME: Lazio’s Montenegrin midfielder Adam Marusic (left) tackles Bayern Munich’s English midfielder Jamal recent games). Things worked well, that was a first chances and played well,” said Bayern winger Sane. Musiala during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match Lazio Rome vs Bayern Munich good step.” “We used the ball well and put pressure on them at on Tuesday at the Olympic stadium in Rome. —AFP Simone Inzaghi’s Lazio need a near miracle in the the back.” return game in Munich on March 17 to reach the last There were two goals in the space of three min- eight. “Bayern are the world champions,” said utes just after the break, with Acerbi turning the ball Chelsea in the 2003/04 group stage. minute. Bayern are now unbeaten in their last 18 Inzaghi. “They definitely did not need our mistakes to into his own net as Bayern counter-attacked from a But Bayern’s defense has often crumbled in recent Champions League games, with only a 1-1 group make it even easier for them.” Flick pulled a surprise Lazio corner. Lazio were in danger of matching their weeks and Lazio forward Correa took advantage of stage draw at Atletico Madrid last December deny- by starting Musiala in place of Thomas Mueller, who heaviest home defeat in Europe having lost 4-0 to poor marking to fire past in the 49th ing them a perfect record of wins. — AFP Giroud overhead kick gives Chelsea Arsenal ‘at home’ in edge over Atletico Athens, Leicester, BUCHAREST: ’s magnificent bicycle Rangers eye Europa kick broke Atletico Madrid’s resistance and earned Chelsea a crucial away goal on Tuesday, a 1-0 vic- tory giving Thomas Tuchel’s side a slender advan- League last 16 tage in the Champions League last 16. Giroud’s PARIS: COVID-19 restrictions mean Arsenal acrobatic strike was initially ruled out for offside will play the home leg of their Europa League but stood after VAR showed Mario Hermoso had last-32 tie against Benfica today in Greece, with got the final touch, delivering a huge blow to the Gunners one of five British sides looking to Atletico’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. secure a spot in the draw for the next round. “I didn’t know what to think about the goal, I just Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal went to Rome last focused on hitting the ball,” said Giroud. “I love an week to play the first,away leg of their tie overhead kick and I was just pleased to see the ball against Benfica due to travel restrictions hit the back of the net. I had no clue about being BUCHAREST: Chelsea’s French striker Olivier Giroud (left) scores during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 between the United Kingdom and Portugal, and offside or not.” first leg football match between Club Atletico de Madrid and Chelsea at the Arena Nationala stadium in Bucharest those same restrictions saw the return moved Diego Simeone’s side had put on a typically dis- on Tuesday. —AFP from London to Greece, with the Karaiskakis ciplined defensive performance until that point but stadium in the Athens port of Piraeus, home of Giroud’s moment of genius means they will have to Olympiakos, the venue for today’s encounter. Restrictions imposed by the Spanish government typically defensive shape, a six-man wall quickly score in London on March 17 if they are to avoid an Perhaps ominously, it was Olympiakos who meant the game had to be played in Bucharest forming in front of Chelsea in the opening stages. early exit. It also continues a worrying dip for knocked the Gunners out of last season’s Europa instead of Madrid, despite the return match remain- The first half was tight, each side able only to create Atletico, whose lead in La Liga is also under threat League but Arsenal will hope to get the better of ing at Stamford Bridge in three weeks’ time. Tuchel openings but failing to find the pass to make a after one win in four matches. “If you’d said to me in Benfica after drawing 1-1 in Rome, where admitted the switch gave his side an advantage but chance. September we’d lose this first leg 1-0 and be top of Bukayo Saka’s equalizer gave them the advan- Simeone refused to complain on Monday, insisting Edouard Mendy’s heavy touch in the opening the league, I’d have signed for that for sure,” said tage on away goals heading into the return. he felt fortunate to play during the pandemic, “how- minutes almost gave the chasing Saul Niguez a tap- Simeone. “The results aren’t going for us so we have With Arsenal sitting in mid-table in the ever and wherever that might be”. in while ’s angled shot was saved by to work, work, work and work.” Premier League, this competition presents the Jan Oblak and Suarez miskicked at the near post. Chelsea, meanwhile, passed their biggest test only viable route into next season’s Champions Spanish clubs struggling in Europe Chelsea looked most dangerous down the flanks, since Tuchel was appointed at the end of January, League for Arteta’s team. Benfica, meanwhile, are Their defeat makes it three home losses out of where Marcos Alonso and Hudson-Odoi pushed backing up a strong run against lesser lights in the seeking solace in Europe having won just once three for Spain’s teams in the Champions League Atletico back. Atletico had space on the break but Premier League with a polished display against one in seven Portuguese league games to drop to last 16 so far, after Barcelona were thrashed by Paris lacked the precision to capitalize. of Europe’s elite. “We knew their strengths and fourth, a huge 15 points behind leaders Sporting. dealt with them,” said Giroud. “We need to stay Saint-Germain and Sevilla were beaten by Borussia Felix sprung into life early in the second half, Dortmund last week. Callum Hudson-Odoi started feeding and then meeting the focused now and finish the job.” Giroud’s goal in the Man Utd as good as through for Chelsea, despite Tuchel criticizing the 20-year- Frenchman’s cross with an acrobatic volley that flew 68th minute was only the third Atletico have con- Manchester United already have one foot in old’s attitude against Southampton on Saturday. over. The game looked destined to finish goalless ceded in 14 home legs of the Champions League the last 16 after an emphatic 4-0 win over Real Atletico started with Suarez, Joao Felix and only for Atletico to briefly lose shape, allowing the knockout stages under Simeone, even if this fixture Sociedad last week, making the most of the fact Angel Correa but an attacking line-up took up a instinctive Giroud to take advantage. — AFP was at home only in name. the first leg of that tie was switched from Spain to Italy after the Spanish government intro- duced a ban on arrivals by air from the UK. istic hope of catching Rangers was gone. But It hardly seems especially fair on La Real Neil Lennon quits Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Ross County, who started the that, having been deprived home advantage in game bottom of the table, proved the final straw. the first leg, they now have to go to Old Trafford as Celtic boss after for the return, but this match is effectively now a Trophy haul dead rubber after a brace by Bruno Fernandes Lennon, who won 10 league titles with Celtic as a helped Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side cruise to dismal campaign player and manager, stepped in two years ago initial- victory in Turin. ly on a temporary basis when fellow Northern Meanwhile Leicester City, who are behind GLASGOW: Neil Lennon resigned as Celtic manag- Irishman Brendan Rodgers left to take charge of second-placed United in the Premier League er yesterday with the club 18 Premier League side Leicester. He saw Celtic over only on goal difference, do have work still to do points behind bitter rivals Rangers in their bid to win the line in the league as Rangers faltered in Gerrard’s in the return leg of their tie at home against a historic 10th consecutive league title. The Northern first season in charge at Ibrox and won the Scottish Czech champions Slavia Prague after a 0-0 Irishman took charge for a second spell in February Cup to complete a third consecutive treble of draw last week. 2019 and led the club to two league titles, two domestic trophies. Scottish Cups and a League Cup. Lawwell offered Lennon the job permanently in Relentless Rangers But he has been under pressure all season as the dressing room after the final in a Steven Gerrard’s Rangers need just seven problems mounted on and off the pitch, with Hoops’ move that was fiercely criticised by fan groups. Celtic points from their last eight games to clinch the fans calling for his head as their dream died. Celtic completed another clean sweep in the 2019/20 sea- Scottish title, and so they can focus their energy flopped badly in Europe and defeat to lowly Ross son, with Lennon’s side crowned champions under a on Europe, as they look to reach the Europa County on Sunday left Steven Gerrard’s Rangers just points formula after the campaign was curtailed due League last 16 for the second season running. seven points away from landing the club’s first title to the coronavirus pandemic. ROME: In this file photo taken on November 07, 2019 The Glasgow giants came from behind twice for a decade. It meant they had matched the feats of Celtic’s Celtic’s Scottish head coach Neil Lennon looks on dur- to win 4-3 in Belgium in the first leg against “Celtic Football Club today announced that Neil greatest-ever side, who won nine consecutive titles ing the UEFA Europa League Group E football match Antwerp last week, with Borna Barisic’s second Lennon has resigned from his position as football starting in the mid-60s, and the big-spending Lazio vs Celtic at the Olympic stadium in Rome. —AFP penalty of the game, in the last minute, proving manager with immediate effect,” said a club state- Rangers team that dominated from the late 1980s. In decisive. At home this season, even without fans, ment. “Neil has served the club with distinction as December, victory on penalties over Hearts complet- Rangers have been untouchable, with 18 wins both player and manager, delivering numerous suc- ed a fourth consecutive treble in the delayed 2019/20 poolside enraged supporters and when defender and a draw in 19 games, and just seven goals cesses, most recently completing the domestic treble Scottish Cup final and Lennon became the first man Christopher Jullien tested positive for coronavirus on conceded. The fitness of prolific right-back in December.” to win the Scottish domestic treble as a player and Celtic’s return to Glasgow, 13 first-team players plus James Tavernier, who came off in the first leg, Lennon, 49, said in the statement he had worked manager. Lennon and Kennedy were forced to self-isolate. could be crucial. The first meeting of two former hard but had been unable to turn the club’s fortunes But by then the wheels had already come off A severely depleted squad lost further ground European champions in AC Milan and Red Star around. “We have experienced a difficult season due Celtic’s season with a string of disappointing results and Rangers’ march to the title became a formality. Belgrade lived up to expectations, with the to so many factors and, of course, it is very frustrat- in Europe and Rangers building a commanding lead Gerrard wished Lennon well, saying he took “no Serbians twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 ing and disappointing that we have not been able to in the league. A 1-0 victory for Gerrard’s men in the personal satisfaction” from his struggles. Former at home in last week’s first leg, Milan Pavkov hit the same heights as we did previously,” he added. second Old Firm derby of the season on January 2 Celtic striker John Hartson said Lennon could be scoring their second equalizer in injury time. Assistant manager John Kennedy will take interim opened up a 19-point lead. proud of his achievements at the club. “I’m not sur- That game was overshadowed by accusations of charge of the team until a permanent successor is Worse was to come for Celtic as Lennon’s squad prised he has resigned but feel it’s the best outcome racist abuse aimed at Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with appointed. The Celtic hierarchy, led by chief execu- immediately jetted out from defeat at Ibrox for an ill- for Celtic,” he tweeted. “The club now need to move Red Star condemning insults addressed to the tive Peter Lawwell, who is standing down at the end judged mid-season training camp in Dubai. Pictures quickly and get a new manager and his staff in for veteran Swede, whose father is Bosnian. — AFP of the season, stood by their manager long after real- of Lennon and captain Scott Brown drinking beer the challenges ahead.” — AFP