Granit Xhaka takes swipe at Michael Oliver for awarding Bayern a penalty in opposition to Leverkusen and insists it by no means would have occurred in England

Granit Xhaka took a swipe at referee Michael Oliver for awarding Bayern Munich a penalty in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen of their UEFA Champions League conflict on Wednesday night.

Bayern Munich took a big step in direction of the Champions League quarter-finals with a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, however the match was not with out controversy. 

The pivotal second got here when referee Oliver awarded Bayern a second-half penalty, which Harry Kane transformed. After the sport, Xhaka vented his frustrations to the media.

The Swiss midfielder, who spent seven years within the Premier League, insisted that Oliver wouldn’t have given the identical resolution in England and claimed it was ‘disappointing’ to see.

‘Within the Premier League, he would not give that. I spent seven years there and know Michael. I am satisfied he would not whistle it within the Premier League,’ Xhaka informed reporters after the game. 

‘There are such a lot of blocks within the Premier League that immediately it was nothing. It’s kind of disappointing from him to whistle such a penalty at this stage and doubtless determine the sport. If you happen to give a penalty for each block, there could be so many penalties each sport.’ 

The pivotal second got here when referee Oliver awarded Bayern the second-half kick, which Harry Kane transformed

The Swiss midfielder, who spent seven years in England, accused Oliver of double requirements

Heading into the sport, Leverkusen and Bayern had been locked in a good battle on the prime of the Bundesliga, making this European conflict all of the extra engaging. 

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen aspect had been the shape group in Germany, whereas Bayern -despite boasting firepower within the type of Kane – had struggled to keep up their typical dominance.

The sport started with Bayern asserting themselves early, they usually took the lead within the ninth minute by way of Kane. A sweeping transfer noticed Michael Olise choose up the ball on the right-hand-side earlier than firing it into the field for the England skipper to transform. 

Leverkusen responded effectively, with Florian Wirtz orchestrating a number of assaults down the left-hand-side. Nonetheless, Alonso’s aspect had been unable to capitalise and discover the again of the online.

The second half remained evenly matched, with either side exhibiting their high quality in possession earlier than Jamal Musiala beat Matej Kovar to increase Bayern’s lead.

Then, within the seventy fifth minute, the second that might outline the sport arrived. 

Tapsoba was booked for dragging Kane to the bottom within the field, with a penalty being awarded to Bayern because of this. 

Leverkusen’s gamers had been incensed, surrounding the referee in protest, whereas Xhaka, standing close by, threw his arms up in disbelief. 

Jonathan Tah was subsequently proven a yellow card after taking it a step additional and making his emotions concerning the penalty identified to the referee.  

A VAR verify upheld the choice, and Kane stepped as much as coolly dispatch the penalty, placing Bayern 3-0 forward.

After the match, Xhaka made no try to cover his anger, not simply on the resolution itself, however at what he noticed as inconsistency in officiating between leagues. 

In the meantime, Leverkusen supervisor Alonso, whereas disillusioned, took a extra measured method. He mentioned: ‘I do not like to talk an excessive amount of about referees, but it surely was a gentle resolution. We had been very a lot within the sport earlier than that, and it modified issues. However we now have the second leg, and we’ll combat.’