Champions League Roundup: Chelsea shocks Atleti to win the first leg, Bayern seals emphatic victory against Lazio

Chelsea got a vital 1-0 away win against Atletico Madrid courtesy of an Olivier Giroud overhead kick that was awarded by VAR, putting Thomas Tuchel’s men in control of the last-16 tie.

In a tie which was expected to be a tight encounter between both sides, Giroud put his side in a confortable position heading into the second leg of the tie with his acrobatic effort 20 minutes from time but celebrations were halted as the linesman’s flag was instantly raised.

However, VAR spotted the ball had deflected off Mario Hermoso rather than Mason Mount, and after three minutes of deliberation, the goal was awarded.

The first leg of the last 16 tie between the sides was moved from Spain due to concerns over coronavirus meaning the La Liga leaders Atletico were forced to play their home leg over 3,000 kilometers from Madrid.

The clash also was Thomas Tuchel’s toughest test so far since joining the Blues but he set up his team shrewdly in Bucharest, keeping a lid on Luis Suarez while controlling possession throughout.

Atletico, surprisingly, didn’t manage a shot on target all night long as a result meaning Chelsea put themselves in pole position to reach the quarter-finals.

Also, Chelsea would miss the services of Mason Mount and Jorginho in the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17 as they will be suspended after being booked.

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Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)

• Tuchel became the third Chelsea manager to win his first Champions League game in charge when the game took place in the knockout stage after Roberto Di Matteo and Guus Hiddink.
• Atletico Madrid failed to land a single shot on target against Chelsea - the first time they’d failed to register a shot on target in a UEFA Champions League game since March 2019 versus Juventus.
• Giroud has scored six Champions League goals this season, his best return in a single campaign in the competition.
• Mason Mount’s yellow card after 55 seconds was the quickest card shown in the UEFA Champions League this season.
• Tuchel (Chelsea and PSG) became only the second manager in the history of the UEFA Champions League to manage two different clubs within a single season after Ronald Koeman in 2007/08 (PSV and Valencia).

Lazio 1-4 Bayern Munich: Jamal Musiala becomes youngest English scorer in Champions League history

Jamal Musiala became the youngest English scorer in the UEFA Champions League after netting in a 4-1 demotion of Serie A side Lazio in the first leg of their last-16 tie in Rome.

The 17-year-old midfielder scored the second goal for Bayern Munich who put three past their opponents in the first half alone and seemingly in a good position to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring for the defending champions after capitalizing on a back pass by Mateo Musacchio and fired home inside the first 10 minutes of the match.

The goal, Lewandowski’s 72nd in the competition, moved him clear of Spanish icon Raul Gonzalez to become the outright third top-scorer in the history of the competition after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Musiala also became the second-youngest player of any nationality to score in the knockout stages of the Champions League after netting the second of the night.

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Only Bojan for Barcelona against Schalke in 2008 has a better record.

Leroy Sane added to the tally and Bayern’s advantage just before half-time, stabbing home after Pepe Reina pushed Kingsley Coman’s shot into his path to leave humiliation looming for Bayern’s Serie A opponents.

Francesco Acerbi scored an own goal early in the second half as Lazio’s situation worsened but Joaquin Correa pulled one back almost immediately and that is how the match ended.