They made tougher work of it than of their demolition of Barcelona, however Bayern Munich arrange a gathering with Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s Champions League ultimate because the Germans eased previous Lyon in Lisbon.
After handing Barcelona a quarterfinal defeat so crushing it despatched the Catalans into an existential disaster, it was all the time going to be robust for Bayern to scale those self same heights towards a spirited Lyon who had shocked Manchester Metropolis of their final match.
And so it proved as Bayern put in a efficiency that was generally sloppy however ultimately constructed the momentum wanted to roll previous their French opponents and into a primary Champions League ultimate for the reason that Germans gained the competitors in 2013.
⏰ RESULT ⏰
⚽️ Gnabry (2), Lewandowski
🔴 Bayern guide their place in Sunday's #UCLfinal 👏#UCL
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) August 19, 2020
Hansi Flick’s crew rode their luck at occasions towards Lyon on the Estadio Jose Alvalade, particularly throughout a sluggish opening as Lyon broke their opponents’ excessive again line a number of occasions, spurning good possibilities by way of Memphis Depay and Karl Toko Ekambi – the latter of whom struck the publish in a let-off for the Germans.
However Ekambi and Lyon had been made to pay for that profligacy within the 18th minute when Bayern winger Gnabry collected the ball on the precise, weaving alongside the sting of the field till he discovered house after which thundering a strike throughout Anthony Lopes’ purpose and into the highest nook.
It was a second of brilliance from the previous Arsenal man and was the eighth purpose of a powerful Champions League marketing campaign for the 25-year-old German worldwide.
The strike appeared to settle Bayern into their rhythm and when the Germans’ second purpose arrived 15 minutes later, it additionally had Gnabry on the tip of it.
Lyon did not clear Ivan Perisic’s low cross and after Robert Lewandowski uncharacteristically failed to show the ball dwelling, Gnabry was readily available to faucet in from shut vary.
Lyon abruptly appeared stretched as Bayern threatened to show the screw, however Rudi Garcia’s crew not less than roused themselves firstly of the second half in pursuit of a method again into the sport.
Manuel Neuer saved a header from Marcelo within the 55th minute because the French facet lastly recorded an effort heading in the right direction, earlier than Ekambi missed a golden likelihood to scale back the deficit, capturing at Neuer when free on the again publish.
Bayern substitute Philippe Coutinho thought he had killed off any faint Lyon hopes when he had the ball within the web within the 80th minute, however the Brazilian’s purpose was dominated out for offside.
The distinction did develop into three nonetheless when Lewandowski inevitably acquired on the scoresheet within the 88th minute, rising to go in a cross from Joshua Kimmich.
It was the prolific Pole’s 55th purpose of the season and 15th of this Champions League marketing campaign, leaving him simply two strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo’s all-time document for a single season within the competitors.
Most targets scored in a single UCL marketing campaign: Cristiano Ronaldo with 17.
Robert Lewandowski simply scored his 15th 👀 pic.twitter.com/F6qmfLAV4m
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 19, 2020
The scoreline ended Three-Zero though the efficiency from Bayern can have struck much less worry into Sunday’s opponents PSG than their destruction of Barcelona did, as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Co. can have eyed potential gaps on the again that Lyon got here near exploiting a number of occasions.
However regardless of not being classic Bayern, the Germans nonetheless recorded an unimaginable 20th straight win in all competitions and have become the primary crew ever to win their first 10 video games of a Champions League marketing campaign, and can head into the ultimate as favorites to clinch what can be a sixth Champions League crown.
