Bayern Munich produced a ruthless display as they dismantled Atalanta by 6-1 at the New Balance Arena in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
The Italian side were thrilled to reach the round of 16 for the first time in five years, but their excitement quickly turned into despair as Bayern stormed into a 3-0 lead within the opening half-hour.
Josip Stanisic opened the scoring after Joshua Kimmich caught the Atalanta defence off guard with a cleverly taken quick corner.
Dayot Upamecano then sparked another attack with a powerful surging run before releasing the ball wide to Michael Olise.
The former Crystal Palace player cut inside and fired a lethal left-footed shot into the far corner to double his side’s lead.
Atalanta were already on the ropes when Serge Gnabry added to their misery. The goal came through after a graceful touch from Olise to control a long ball from the goalkeeper.
Gnabry used his pace to race past the defence before making 3-0.
Nicolas Jackson came agonisingly close to scoring before half-time but saw his effort flash narrowly wide of the target. He did not make the same mistake in the 52nd minute when Luis Diaz set him up with a clever flick.
Olise later produced another moment of magic, cutting inside onto his stronger foot before beating the goalkeeper with a precise strike.
The German giants made the second leg irrelevant with their sixth goal of the contest. Jackson dazzled with quick footwork before drilling a dangerous cross into the six-yard box from the right flank for substitute Jamal Musiala to convert.
Both Jackson and Upamecano had chances to stretch the scoreline further but failed to capitalise on their opportunities.
Atalanta did manage to grab a consolation goal when Mario Pasalic swept home from close range.
The midfielder chose not to celebrate, but the Bergamo supporters still applauded the efforts of their team despite the heavy defeat.
Only a miracle could allow Atalanta to turn the tie around.
No Harry Kane, no worries
Harry Kane was absent from the 4-1 home win against Borussia Monchengladbach due to a calf problem.
Bayern manager Vincent Kompany named him on the bench but saw no need to risk him after watching his side completely dominate Atalanta.
Kompany’s decision to rest the England captain ultimately proved to be a wise one, avoiding any potential aggravation of the injury.
Jackson could now start again in the second leg at the Allianz Arena, with Bayern looking undisputed favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.
Rising injury concerns for Kompany
Despite the emphatic victory, Kompany will be worried about the injury sustained by Alphonso Davies.
The Canadian defender had just returned from a two-week absence caused by a torn thigh muscle fibre.
Davies made an immediate impact after coming on at half-time.
He played a key role in the fourth goal of the game before earning an assist for Olise’s second strike.
However, his unfortunate injury struggles continued as he was forced off in the 71st minute with a hamstring issue.
The 25-year-old remains one of the world’s finest full-backs, but his recurring injuries have become a growing concern.
Davies had already missed the start of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
As a result, he has started only four matches so far this season.
In addition to Davies, Bayern will also closely monitor the fitness of Jamal Musiala and Jonas Urbig, who both picked up knocks late in the game.
Special mention: Atalanta fans
Watching their beloved team being dismantled by one of the most powerful sides in European football was never going to be easy.
Despite the painful scoreline, the home supporters refused to abandon their team and remained in the stands until the final whistle.
The Bergamo crowd could easily have headed for the exits early, but instead they chose to stand firmly behind their players.
Atalanta have made remarkable progress over the past few years, yet on this occasion they were simply outclassed by a superior opponent.
Even in defeat, the fans continued to applaud their players until the very end, offering a rare and powerful reminder of loyalty.
