A few minutes into the second half, Bayer Leverkusen was clearly outplayed by Bayern Munich. By that time, Bayern had outshot Leverkusen 9 to 3 and was already leading 1-0. Veteran Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich was having a standout night, while star striker Harry Kane opened the scoring just nine minutes in.

The nature of two-legged matches means that a one-goal advantage isn’t solidified; Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso may not have started strong, but with its talent, the team could still create a comeback in the second leg.

Unfortunately, Leverkusen squandered the chance. In a disastrous second half, the team made several significant mistakes. The first came in the 54th minute when goalkeeper Matěj Kovář mishandled a shot that allowed Jamal Musiala to find the net, extending Bayern’s lead to 2-0.

Just eight minutes later, Nordi Mukiele was sent off after receiving his second yellow card, leaving them shorthanded. To worsen matters, Edmond Tapsoba, who had just come on as a substitute, fouled Kane in the box, conceding a penalty that Kane successfully converted, sealing a 3-0 win for Bayern.

With this defeat, the task ahead for Leverkusen becomes significantly more challenging. They must now overcome a 3-0 deficit to have any hope of advancing, despite the possibility that Bayern might drop the ball defensively in the return leg.