.jpeg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800 "Ryanair gives update on paperless boarding passes as it delays roll out – UK Times")
Granit Xhaka took a swipe at referee Michael Oliver for awarding Bayern Munich a penalty against Bayer Leverkusen in their UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday evening.
Bayern Munich took a significant step towards the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, but the match was not without controversy.
The pivotal moment came when referee Oliver awarded Bayern a second-half penalty, which Harry Kane converted. After the game, Xhaka vented his frustrations to the media.
The Swiss midfielder, who spent seven years in the Premier League, insisted that Oliver would not have given the same decision in England and claimed it was ‘disappointing’ to see.
‘In the Premier League, he doesn’t give that. I spent seven years there and know Michael. I’m convinced he wouldn’t whistle it in the Premier League,’ Xhaka told reporters after the game.
‘There are so many blocks in the Premier League that today it was nothing. It’s a bit disappointing from him to whistle such a penalty at this level and probably decide the game. If you give a penalty for every block, there would be so many penalties every game.’
Granit Xhaka took a swipe at referee Michael Oliver for awarding Bayern Munich a penalty against Bayer Leverkusen in their UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday evening
The pivotal moment came when referee Oliver awarded Bayern a second-half penalty, which Harry Kane converted. After the game, Xhaka vented his frustrations to the media
The Swiss midfielder, who spent seven years in the Premier League , insisted that Oliver would not have given the same decision in England and claimed it was ‘disappointing’ to see
Heading into the game, Leverkusen and Bayern were locked in a tight battle at the top of the Bundesliga, making this European clash all the more enticing. Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side had been the form team in Germany, unbeaten in domestic competition, while Bayern—despite boasting firepower in the form of Kane—had struggled to maintain their usual dominance.
The game began with Bayern asserting themselves early, and they took the lead in the 14th minute through Leroy Sane. A sweeping move saw Musiala release the winger, who slotted past Lukas Hradecky to put the visitors ahead.
Leverkusen responded well, with Florian Wirtz orchestrating attacks in midfield. Their patience paid off just before halftime when Wirtz produced a moment of brilliance, curling an effort beyond Manuel Neuer to restore parity.
The second half remained evenly matched, with both sides showing their quality in possession. Then, in the 72nd minute, the moment that would define the game arrived. As Jamal Musiala made a darting run into the box, he appeared to collide with Jonathan Tah. The contact was minimal, but Oliver pointed to the spot.
Leverkusen’s players were incensed, surrounding the referee in protest, while Xhaka, standing nearby, threw his arms up in disbelief. A VAR check upheld the decision, and Harry Kane stepped up to coolly dispatch the penalty, putting Bayern 2-1 ahead.
With Leverkusen pushing for an equaliser, Bayern took full advantage on the counterattack. In stoppage time, Kane struck again, finishing off a swift break to seal a 3-1 win and put Bayern in command of the tie.
After the match, Xhaka made no attempt to hide his anger, not just at the decision itself, but at what he saw as inconsistency in officiating between leagues. Meanwhile, Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso, while disappointed, took a more measured approach.
Speaking after the game he said: ‘I don’t like to speak too much about referees, but it was a soft decision. We were very much in the game before that, and it changed things. But we have the second leg, and we will fight.’
