Bayern Munich Finds Its Escalation Gear

What was all the fuss about? A draw in the first leg against RB Salzburg, secured only in injury time, had led to suggestions that Bayern Munich might struggle to make it through to the last eight of the Champions League, but an emphatic, 7–1 win in the home leg offered a reminder of just how ruthless it can be if given the opportunity. Skeptics will say this was only Salzburg, and that there were some defensive concerns before the goals began to flow, but this was still an impressive response under pressure.

Bayern has not been playing well in recent weeks. Before the first leg, it suffered a 4–2 defeat at Bochum and, having struggled to break down Salzburg in Austria, it followed up a 4–1…