Bayern Munich reinforce Champions League credentials as PSG hit Villarreal for six

Bayern Munich strengthened their Champions League credentials with a disciplined 2-0 victory over Atletico Madrid at the stadium due to host June’s final.

Despite missing several attacking players and manager Vincent Kompany, who is recovering after collapsing at training, the Bundesliga champions controlled the match against a determined Diego Simeone side and a hostile home crowd.

Bayern had drawn 2-2 with Arsenal and 3-3 with Viking in their previous two European matches, making victory important in their bid to finish in the top eight of the league phase and qualify directly for the last 16.

Atletico, Champions League semi-finalists last season, arrived on a nine-game unbeaten run featuring eight victories. But Bayern’s compact defence restricted the hosts, who finished the first half without a shot on target.

Lennart Karl opened the scoring after taking advantage of an error by Robin Le Normand, dispossessing him inside the penalty area before finishing calmly.

“The way we defended together as a group to get the clean sheet, we were really pleased with the whole team performance,” Bayern assistant manager Aaron Danks told a press conference.

“Tonight was about the collective group, about the spirit of this group, to come together in adversity and get a result in a difficult ground.”

Bayern had most of the possession but initially struggled to break through Atletico’s organised defence. Karl shot wide in the 22nd minute and Harry Kane volleyed off target from close range four minutes later, while Jan Oblak was rarely troubled before half-time.

Atletico pushed forward after falling behind but created few clear opportunities. Bayern’s pressing forced another misplaced pass in the 74th minute, allowing Kane to release Konrad Laimer, who finished powerfully to settle the contest.

Bayern had conceded at least four goals over the two legs in each of their previous four Champions League eliminations. Their defensive unity at the Metropolitano offered a different picture, with Danks praising their collective response in difficult circumstances.

Led by Ballon d’Or holder Kane, Bayern have a squad capable of challenging Europe’s leading teams. Paris St Germain’s combination of attacking quality and collective discipline has been central to their two Champions League triumphs, and Bayern showed similar cohesion in Madrid.

Paris St Germain also underlined their title credentials by beating Villarreal 6-0, becoming the fastest team to score four goals in a Champions League match. They remain top of the standings on 12 points, with six teams, including Barcelona and Aston Villa, on nine.

At Old Trafford, Manchester United recovered from two goals down to beat AS Roma 3-2. Matias Soule and Donyell Malen’s penalty put Roma 2-0 ahead, before Bruno Fernandes converted a retaken penalty in the 58th minute. Matheus Cunha scored twice in seven minutes to complete the comeback, although he was later sent off after being booked for removing his shirt and entering the stands before a late challenge.

The result followed protests by home supporters, who released green and gold balloons and threw yellow tennis balls on to the pitch.

Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0 through Lamine Yamal’s seventh-minute opener and two Raphinha goals, while Inter Milan defeated Feyenoord 3-0 at De Kuip.

LASK beat Slovan Bratislava 4-0 for only their second Champions League win, Bodo/Glimt drew 0-0 with Lille, Galatasaray beat Stuttgart 2-0 and Sporting defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.

Fixtures across Europe began with a minute of silence for Tenerife player Jesus de Miguel, who died earlier on Tuesday.