Bayern Munich finally broke their winless streak against Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, securing a commanding 3-0 victory in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie. In front of a sold-out Allianz Arena with 75,000 spectators, Bayern took a significant step towards qualification, courtesy of goals from Harry Kane (9’, 75’) and Jamal Musiala (54’).

The triumph marked Bayern’s first win over Leverkusen since 29 September 2022, when they secured a 4-0 victory. Since then, under Alonso’s leadership, Leverkusen have enjoyed a strong record against Bayern, winning three times and drawing three.

Kane and Musiala Shine in Crucial Win

Acknowledging the importance of the victory, Kane highlighted the strength of Leverkusen’s squad.

"Leverkusen are our closest rivals here in Germany,” the England captain told the media. “I think this was only their fifth defeat in two years. We’ve had many tough battles recently, and we know the second leg won’t be easy. They’ll come into the game believing they can turn it around.”

Kane was instrumental in Bayern’s success on the night. While he has been lethal from the penalty spot this season, his influence in open play has sometimes been questioned. That was not the case this time, as he not only scored the crucial opener but also delivered an outstanding all-round performance—perhaps his best since joining Bayern.

Another standout performer was Michael Olise, who continued to justify his reputation as one of last summer’s best signings. The French international provided a pinpoint cross for Kane’s opening goal and has now recorded 13 goals and 13 assists in 37 matches across all competitions.

Musiala Steps Up on the Big Stage

Jamal Musiala, often criticised for failing to deliver in crucial moments over the past two seasons, produced a stellar display in a match that saw him go head-to-head with Germany’s other young star, Florian Wirtz. The Bayern playmaker seemed particularly motivated following comments from club legend Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who recently described Wirtz as the best German player in an interview with a Munich-based newspaper.

Asked about Rummenigge’s remarks, Musiala played down the comparison:

“I haven’t seen that,” he said. “Everyone has their own opinion. My focus is on improving, taking steps forward, and giving my best on the pitch.”

Regardless of his response, it was hard to ignore the contrast on the night—while Musiala delivered a decisive performance, Wirtz struggled to make an impact.

Despite the convincing victory, Musiala insisted that the tie was far from over.

“It was a great performance from everyone,” he said. “We’re happy, but we know it’s not finished. We need to bring the same intensity and hunger into the second leg. It won’t be easy. We’ve taken a big step, but it’s not over yet.”

Bayern Remain Cautious Ahead of Second Leg

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany echoed Musiala’s sentiments, warning against complacency.

“It’s only halftime; we remain fully focused on the second leg,” Kompany stated. “This was our most important game of the season so far, but hopefully, there are bigger ones to come. We’re staying calm and have shown we are always ready.”

Kompany’s caution is understandable. Before this fixture, Leverkusen had gone seven matches unbeaten against Bayern and have previously demonstrated their ability to cause serious damage to the Rekordmeister. Last season, they claimed a dominant 3-0 victory over Bayern en route to their first Bundesliga title.

Midfielder Konrad Laimer reinforced the need for focus.

“It was important to take an advantage over Leverkusen,” Laimer said. “But this is a two-legged tie, and having an advantage changes nothing. We need to approach the return leg with the same energy and intensity. If we do that, we are an excellent team capable of winning every game.”

A Statement Victory for Bayern

While Bayern players are right to insist that the job is not done, overturning a three-goal deficit against such an experienced side will be a monumental challenge for Leverkusen.

This result also feels like part of a redemption campaign for Bayern after last season’s humiliations at the hands of their Bundesliga rivals. Having already been eliminated by Leverkusen in the DFB-Pokal, another Champions League exit at their hands would have been a bitter blow. That danger has now been significantly reduced, though Bayern must remain focused when they travel to the BayArena next week.