Bayern on verge of Champions League quarters after hitting Atalanta for six
Bayern Munich secured a commanding position in the Champions League quarter finals on Tuesday after demolishing Atalanta 6-1, showcasing exactly why the Bundesliga powerhouse remains a top contender for the trophy.
Leading as early as the 12th minute courtesy of Josip Stanisic in Bergamo, the visitors effectively sealed their passage with a brilliant double from star performer Michael Olise, plus goals from Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson, and Jamal Musiala.
With only one home defeat this season, Bayern's ferocious outing, achieved without starters Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala from the outset, virtually eliminated any hope for Atalanta to advance.
A potential clash with either Real Madrid or Manchester City looms for Bayern in the following stage, barring an extraordinary meltdown during next week's return fixture in Munich.
"That performance matched precisely what we aimed for. We posed threats constantly during the game," Kompany remarked to Prime Video.
"Our squad boasts skill and depth... It's hardly shocking when the players produce results like that."
For Atalanta, this result demands an improbable recovery following their exciting victory over Borussia Dortmund to reach the knockout phase, and their exit would conclude Italy's run in this season's Champions League.
Falling to a continental powerhouse brings no shame to the underdog outfit that has exceeded expectations both domestically and in Europe throughout the past ten years.
Nevertheless, it proved a harsh evening for Raffaele Palladino's squad, who received warm applause from their passionate crowd at half time and the end, as well as for Italian football overall.
"Nothing remains but to praise Bayern... Regrettably, things did not unfold as planned, and we must take the loss," stated Mario Pasalic, scorer of the home side's late consolation in added time.
"All we can do is approach the return match with some dignity."
No mercy
Even absent Kane and Musiala, Bayern attacked Atalanta aggressively from the start with intense pressing, as Michael Olise challenged keeper Marco Carnesecchi twice within the opening five minutes.
A deflected shot from Luis Diaz led to a corner that exposed Atalanta's defensive lapse, allowing Stanisic to capitalise.
The hosts were caught off guard as Olise played his corner short to the unmarked Gnabry inside the box, who nudged it forward for Stanisic to finish from near point blank.
Olise extended Atalanta's deficit in the 22nd minute by cutting in from the right and elegantly bending in his second goal of the campaign in Europe's elite club competition.
The French winger proved pivotal once more for Bayern's third goal shortly after, with a exquisite outside of the boot touch setting Gnabry free to race clear and slam home, rendering the matchup all but decided.
Gnabry nearly added another by striking the bar as Bayern dominated, while manager Vincent Kompany displayed ruthlessness by introducing Musiala and Alphonso Davies at interval.
Jackson fired in the fourth on 52 minutes, and from that point, the evening turned humiliating for Atalanta, whose supporters could only applaud Olise's stunning strike of the match in the 64th minute.
Jackson then assisted Musiala to slot away Bayern's sixth soon afterwards, and by the final action, Pasalic's goal for Atalanta arrived after the Germans could easily have reached ten.
Not everything went smoothly for Bayern, however, as Davies limped off with a hamstring issue, adding to the Canadian's ongoing injury woes over recent seasons.
Yet the modest group of Bayern supporters in one corner of the Gewiss Stadium had no grievances, with their side advancing toward a blockbuster encounter against City or Madrid.