A clinical finish from prolific England striker Harry Kane earned Bayern Munich a 2-1 win against PSV Eindhoven Wednesday that secured the German giants second place in the Champions League table.
The result meant heartbreak for PSV, who missed out on the play-offs despite a Champions League campaign that saw massive wins against Liverpool and Napoli.
Bayern were already assured a place in the last 16 and manager Vincent Kompany made five changes from the side that suffered a 2-1 defeat against Augsburg, their first Bundesliga loss since March.
He could afford to leave Kane on the bench, as well as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Michael Olise, the 24-year-old France international winger.
The hosts started the brightest on a freezing night in Eindhoven, with veteran striker Ivan Perisic fizzing a volley just over the bar after only three minutes.
A free-flowing first half saw the goalkeepers pressed into action at both ends, Bayern's Jonas Urbig pulling off a stunning save from a Perisic header just before the break.
But neither side could apply the finishing touch and the first period ended 0-0, with Peter Bosz's men staring at elimination from the tournament as it stood.
It was the visitors who eventually broke the deadlock.
A PSV attack fizzled out, leaving them exposed at the back as Bayern hit them on the break.
After clever interplay with teenage midfielder Lennart Karl, striker Jamal Musiala lashed the ball into the roof of the net from close range, to stunned silence in the Philips Stadion.
Kane finally entered the fray on 62 minutes, along with 30-year-old Germany international forward Serge Gnabry, Bayern deploying heavy artillery for the final third.
Great way to finish the league phase and bounce back from the weekend! Let’s push on from here 🙌 pic.twitter.com/E3QuqYFn94
— Harry Kane (@HKane) January 28, 2026
Fighting for their Champions League lives, PSV threw everything at the Germans and Ismael Saibari, their most potent threat, gave them a lifeline on 77 minutes.
After a cheeky one-two with midfielder Guus Til, the 25-year-old Morocco international midfielder curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
But Kane had the final word, slotting home calmly from a Luis Diaz cut back on 84 minutes, leaving no time for a Dutch miracle.