Bayern put four past Atalanta again: 10-2 aggregate romp as Kane bags brace to reach 50-goal landmark

Let's be honest, anyone who tuned in early this morning was probably just expecting a goal-fest. After Bayern put six past them in Bergamo in the first leg, surely not even the most optimistic Atalanta fan genuinely believed their side could overturn a six-goal deficit? Last night's second leg at the Allianz Arena felt less like a Champions League knockout tie and more like a Bayern exhibition match, and a personal milestone night for Harry Kane.

Kane at the double, 50 goals 'a piece of cake'

Everyone knew the main storyline before the game: Harry Kane was just two goals away from hitting the 50-goal mark in the Champions League. The England captain didn't let the fans who stayed up late down. In the 25th minute, Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini handled the ball in the box while trying to block Kane's shot. After a VAR check, the ref pointed to the spot. Although his first penalty was saved, the keeper was adjudged to have come off his line early, so it had to be retaken. You know how it is, a forward who's missed a penalty dreads getting a second chance, but Kane was ice-cool, smashing it into the corner second time around to make it 1-0.

Then, in the 54th minute, came the moment of magic. Josip Stanišić played a brilliant through-ball into the box. Kane picked it up on the right, didn't even look up, and lashed it first-time from a tight angle. The ball took a slight deflection off a defender but flew into the top corner. This goal, a beauty in terms of power and precision, marked his 50th Champions League goal. Looking at the stats, he reached that milestone in 66 games – the same number as Lionel Messi, and 25 games faster than Cristiano Ronaldo. And you've got to remember how many Champions League campaigns he had with Spurs? It's a seriously impressive strike rate.

Young guns shine, keeper crisis averted by 'disaster plan'

Bayern weren't just about Kane, though; the youngsters also delivered. In the 56th minute, Luis Díaz laid the ball off for 18-year-old rising star Lennart Karl, who curled it into the far corner from the right edge of the box. Díaz then got in on the act himself, latching onto a long ball and chipping the keeper to make it 4-0. Atalanta grabbed a late consolation through Lazar Samardžić, but it only changed the scoreline to 4-1 on the night, making it a 10-2 aggregate drubbing.

Bayern fans will have loved the scoreline, but seeing the state of the bench must have made them sweat a bit. You know things are bad when Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich, and even last game's starter Jonas Urbig are all injured or ill. Bayern were so short in goal they were almost forced to use a 16-year-old kid – Leonard Prescott – as their 'disaster plan'! Thankfully, Urbig managed to tough it out and start, otherwise, the idea of a 16-year-old 'emergency option' starting a Champions League last-16 tie would have been terrifying.

Palladino: We might have lost to the best team in Europe

Atalanta manager Raffaele Palladino was full of praise for Bayern afterwards, admitting: "We changed our tactics, tried to sit deeper, but it didn't change the outcome. I have to congratulate Bayern and Kompany, because we might have just faced the best team in Europe at the moment." He also suggested Italian teams need to reflect on why, when facing a side of Bayern's calibre, it feels like they're playing "a different sport."

• Dominant stats: Bayern have scored 28 goals in 9 Champions League games this season, averaging 3.1 per game.
• Fortress Allianz: They've netted 14 goals in 4 home games in this year's competition, winning by an average margin of 3.5 goals.
• Quarter-final opponents: Bayern will face Real Madrid in the last eight – a real 'early final' clash.

Looking back at this game, Atalanta had just over 30% possession and were on the back foot for most of it. They've only scored 4 goals in 5 away games in this Champions League, the weakest away attacking record among the last-16 sides. Facing a Bayern defence that's been patched up with youngsters due to injuries, and still failing to score more than once? They've only got themselves to blame.

Simply put, that 10-2 aggregate scoreline says it all. The real test comes in the quarters against Real Madrid. That's when we'll find out if Harry Kane is the 'real deal' on the biggest stage, or if he goes missing.