Werkself review #FCBB04: "We still have a chance, so we'll fight!"

Summary: FCB take an early lead - Mukiele shown a second yellow

It was a tough encounter right from the word go, with both teams recognising the importance of the game. Just under ten minutes had passed without any goalmouth action of note when Harry Kane scored the opener for FC Bayern with the first chance of the game (9'). Jeremie Frimpong then had a good chance at the other end in a one-on-one with Manuel Neuer, who made a good save (14'). The game remained largely evenly poised until the break, but without any further chances for either side. After the break, the action continued just as it had in the first half: Jamal Musiala made it 2-0 for the hosts (54'), FCB keeper Neuer had to come off injured (58') and Nordi Mukiele was sent off after being shown a second yellow card. Kane then scored from the spot after Edmond Tapsoba had held the Englishman in the box following a Bayern corner (75'). Bayern's Joao Palhinha hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but nothing more of note happened in the closing stages. Click HERE for the full match report.

Reaction: "Definitely accept this challenge!"

Granit Xhaka summed up the situation afterwards on Werkself TV: "Of course the disappointment at this moment is huge. Despite going behind early, we were doing well, weren't allowing them much and had a good chance through Jeremie. But the sending off changed the game a bit. In my opinion, the win was too high overall. But that's how it is now. We have another 90 minutes or more, we believe in ourselves and will give it our all!" Jonathan Tah had this to say about the clash: "It was a tough game. Bayern were better than us at times today. Despite that, I don't think we should have lost the game 3-0. In the end, it was our own mistakes that we could have avoided. But mistakes happen. We still have the second leg and we know what we're capable of. It's a huge challenge, but we definitely accept it!"

Head coach Xabi Alonso emphasised at the press conference: "A lot of things went against us today. We made big mistakes, especially in the second half. But it's not over till it's over. We're not giving up. We still have a chance, so we'll fight!“

What the papers say: "Pressure for the second leg is huge"

The Rheinische Post saw "an intense game, with Bayern looking a tad more focused", the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger wrote of "individual mistakes by poor Leverkusen players", while the Kölnische Rundschau's headline read "A completely ruined evening". kicker reported: "In his seventh game with Bayer against Bayern, Xabi Alonso loses for the first time. The pressure for the second leg is now huge."

Personnel: Two milestones and a debut

The Werkself's two holding midfielders reached some very special milestones on the night: Exequiel Palacios made his 150th competitive appearance for Bayer 04, while Xhaka made his 100th appearance in a major European UEFA competition. Emiliano Buendía, who came on as a substitute in the closing stages, also made his Champions League debut for Bayern 04.

Stats: Only the second UCL goal conceded before the break

It was only the second time in the current Champions League campaign that Bayern 04 conceded a goal in the first half - the only previous occasion was in the league phase away to Brest (1-1). Up front, the double winners managed just three shots on goal - the lowest figure for the Black & Reds in the current UCL campaign. The match stats underpinned the final result: the Werkself were outclassed in terms of possession (35 per cent), tackle win rate (45 per cent) and shots on target (3:17).

Outlook: Bremen in the league first, then the second leg

Next up for Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga is a home game against SV Werder Bremen. Kick-off is at 15.30 CET on Saturday, 8 March. Three days later, next Tuesday, 11 March (kick-off: 21:00 CET), the second leg of the round of 16 against FC Bayern will be played at the BayArena. The final match before the international break is the away game at VfB Stuttgart (Sunday, 16 March, 19.30 CET).