Bayern Munich crushed Arsenal 5-1 in their Champions League round of 16 first leg last night, scoring three goals in a dazzling 10-minute spell in the second half to extend their record to 16 consecutive home wins in the competition.
Thiago Alcantara struck twice and Robert Lewandowski, Arjen Robben and substitute Thomas Mueller were also on target as the Bavarians, struggling for form recently, inflicted Arsenal’s first defeat of the season in Europe’s premier club competition.
Alexis Sanchez had equalised for the visitors, scoring on the rebound after Manuel Neuer saved his 30th-minute penalty.
The sides meet for the second leg in London on March 7.
Bayern, who knocked out Arsenal at this stage of the competition in 2005, 2013 and 2014, got off to a perfect start.
Robben was left with far too much space and the Dutchman did not hesitate, advancing with his trademark move down the right before curling an unstoppable left-foot shot into the top corner of David Ospina’s goal.
Arsenal were briefly rattled by the early goal but almost levelled when Neuer spilled Mesut Ozil’s free kick.
They did better three minutes later when they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Lewandowski.
Neuer saved Sanchez’ spot-kick but the Chilean sneaked in among three Bayern players to lash the ball home from close range.
The game looked to have lost its pace in the second half before Bayern suddenly stepped on the gas to fire three goals past the English side.
Philipp Lahm floated a perfect cross into the box and Lewa-ndowski rose high above defender Shkodran Mustafi to drill in a header in the 53rd minute.
The Poland striker set up Thiago with a perfect flick for Bayern’s third goal three minutes later and the Spaniard grabbed his second with a low drive.
The English team have lost in the last 16 in each of last six seasons and Bayern missed several chances before Mueller struck two minutes from time as the German champions took a huge step towards a sixth successive quarter-final appearance.
Casemiro stunner
Casemiro’s stunning volley crowned a superb display from Real Madrid, who fought back to beat Napoli 3-1 at the Bernabeu.
The Brazilian midfielder thundered a spectacular effort into the net early in the second half to complete Real’s comeback, adding to efforts either side of half-time from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos.
Napoli, the top scorers in Serie A, grabbed an early goal when Lorenzo Insigne spotted Real keeper Keylor Navas out of position to curl the ball home from distance.
Real were defending an enviable home record in the Champions League, having gone 11 games undefeated at the Bernabeu, but were facing a Napoli side in form, unbeaten in their last 18 matches in all competitions.
Real, eyeing a seventh straight quarter-final appearance, were at the throats of their opponents within moments of the kick-off as Benzema forced a reflex save from Pepe Reina with barely 20 seconds on the clock.
At that point it looked like it could be a long evening for Napoli, but the Italians were in no mood to lie down and took the lead to cap a frenetic opening after eight minutes.
Insigne was fed through on goal by Marek Hamsik and spotted Real keeper Navas out of position. Quick as a flash and with two defenders closing in, he bent a shot into the corner from 35 metres.
The lead lasted 10 minutes as Real drew level when Dani Carvajal’s arrowed cross was headed powerfully into the net by Benzema.
The remainder of the half was spent mainly in Napoli territory as Real continued to press, with Cristiano Ronaldo blasting over after being set free by Luka Modric and Benzema clipping the outside of the post when through on goal.
Their dominance, however, was rewarded four minutes after the restart as Ronaldo skipped to the byline and pulled it back for Kroos on the edge of the box to sidefoot calmly past Reina.
Four minutes later Casemiro took the game, and perhaps the tie, away from Napoli with a stunning right-foot volley from 25 metres that left Reina flailing.
Karim Benzema (right) scores for Real against Napoli.