After Atalanta’s success over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League knockout phase playoffs, the Bergamo-based outfit were rewarded with a Round of 16 clash against fellow Bundesliga representatives Bayern Munich.
At the final whistle of their first leg clash on Tuesday night, the supposed reward felt more like a punishment for Raffaele Palladino’s men. Bayern at their brilliant best, they did not even need their best player in the starting eleven.
Harry Kane being given a rare night off by Bayern boss Vincent Kompany and thanks to his teammates, he will probably be given the second leg off as well. The German giants scoring six goals at the New Balance Arena, those six surely leading the club to the Champions League’s last eight.
The England captain watching from the bench and certainly liking what he saw early on, the visitors taking the lead through Josip Stanisic after 12 minutes. A close range finish after neat work from Michael Olise giving Bayern the early lead that many would have expected.
While it was Olise who was pivotal to Bayern’s attacking output throughout the night and 10 minutes after creating the first, the former Crystal Palace star would subsequently place his own name on the scoresheet.
His curling effort leaving Atalanta keeper Marco Carnesecchi stranded as Bayern doubled their advantage in the 22nd minute. Fast forward to the 25th and the hosts would find themselves three goals behind.
Olise once again pulling the strings as the creator of the masterpiece, his pass playing in Serge Gnabry to already give Bayern a huge advantage before next week’s return leg in Munich. Most teams would have gone down through the gears at this point, this side are not like most teams.
Instead, Vincent Kompany willed his players to go and get more, ruthlessness in full effect by the time former Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson had made it 4-0. The Senegalese international scoring seven minutes after the interval.
Four turning into five when Michael Olise earned his second of the night. Atalanta’s chief tormentor was effortlessly on the scoresheet once again in the 64th minute, another soul-searching evening for Italian football.
Still time for the outlook to worsen just three minutes later when Jamal Musiala would slot home Bayern’s sixth. Complete joy in the away end as those who made the journey could not believe how dominant their team had been on the road.
There was at least a consolation for Atalanta, Mario Pasalic’s injury time goal giving the home fans a reason to be cheerful but it surely means nothing within in the context of the tie. Next week’s second leg a formality but do not expect Bayern to go through the motions.
The Bundesliga already seems wrapped up, domestic endeavour can be handled in first or second gear between now and when they eventually get their hands on the title. The perfect recipe for conquering the continent and winning a first Champions League title since 2020.
