Rome: Five-time European champions Bayern Munich took a huge step towards qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a remarkable 7-1 rout of Roma at a stunned Stadio Olimpico on yesterday.


Bayern Munich's players celebrate after scoring during the Champions League group stage football match AS Roma vs Bayern Munich in Rome. Pic/AFP 

Pep Guardiola's Bundesliga leaders travelled to the Eternal City looking to draw first blood in the first of two consecutive encounters between the Group E rivals -- they meet in Munich in a fortnight. Instead the German champions, who won their last Champions League title in 2013, cemented their credentials as potential winners of this campaign. Rudi Garcia's men were a pale shadow of the side that had beaten CSKA Moscow 5-1 at home and battled to a 1-1 draw with Manchester City.