Liverpool and Bayern, to rooms by different paths

MADRID, March 8. (Royals Blue) –

Livepool and Bayern Munich qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals on Tuesday after finishing with Inter Milan (2-1, on aggregate) and Salzburg (8-2), respectively, although both teams took very different paths to reach the top eight of the ‘Old Continent’.

At Anfield, Jurgen Klopp’s team crashed three balls into the post and dominated Inter, but had some phases of contention due to the Italians’ goal, which put fear in their rival’s body despite the 0-2 the way However, nothing changed in the ‘red’ team, which maintained its extra-offensive character when it didn’t need to.

Joel Matip was the first to hit the crossbar after half an hour, just after Klopp himself had stopped the game so that medical services could attend to a spectator with health problems in the stands. The clash resumed once the task was achieved and Liverpool had no problem containing the timid attacks of the team led by Simone Inzaghi.

In the second half, Mohamed Salah had the clearest chance when he hit the base of the post in the best moments of the local team, after a well-meaning tight shot. However, Inter were able to wake up with two blows from Lautaro Martínez. The first ended in a corner but the second, a minute later, was a great goal for the squad. Something that fueled the match at 60 minutes, but for a very short time.

The double yellow to Alexis Sánchez less than half an hour from the end left Inter without resources, which lost all strength in the final meters. Liverpool continued to attack but – it was not their day – and once again Salah found the post in the 76th minute. The clash ended without more opportunities for an Inter that caressed the extra time but it was not enough.

LEWANDOWSKI LEADS BAYERN’S GROUNDS WITH A ‘HAT-TRICK’

For their part, Bayern Munich had no trouble sealing their spot in the quarter-finals after beating Salzburg 7-1. Julian Nagelsmann’s pupils needed only one goal after 1-1 in the first leg, but he did not speculate at any time and he signed a real festival at the Allianz Arena so as not to miss his appointment with the eight best in Europe.

The Germans took an early lead when Maximilian Wober took a penalty after 12 minutes. The person in charge of transforming him was Robert Lewandowski, who scored the first of his three goals on Tuesday to end his ‘drought’ of two games without scoring. The Pole repeated the same fate ten minutes later, also from eleven meters, and left the Austrian team very ‘touched’.

The third of the Bavarians also carried the signature of Lewandowski, who was the smartest in the class by chasing a long ball that ended up kissing the nets after hitting the wood. Gnabry established the fourth with a low shot and thus the break was reached, with an authoritarian 4-0 that left the tie lifeless.

In the second half, Bayern – who recovered Neuer in goal – extended their lead with a brace from Thomas Muller and another goal from Leroy Sané; while Salzburg achieved the goal of honor in boots of the Danish Maurits Kjaergaard. A crossing without history that puts an end to the ‘doubts’ of the Munich team after their recent draw in the Bundesliga.