Robert Lewandowski fires Bayern Munich past Chelsea and into UEFA Champions League quarter-finals
Robert Lewandowski scored his 12th and 13th UEFA Champions League goals of the season and set up Ivan Perisic and Corentin Tolisso as Bayern Munich beat Chelsea 4-1 at the Allianz Arena (7-1 on aggregate) on Saturday night to set up a quarter-final showdown with Barcelona.
Bayern Munich 4-1 Chelsea (7-1 on aggregate)
Goals: 1-0 Lewandowski (pen. 10'), 2-0 Perisic (24'), 2-1 Abraham (44'), 3-1 Tolissio (76'), 4-1 Lewandowski (84')
More than five months on from beating Chelsea 3-0 in London at the end of February, Bayern went into their second leg against the English Premier League outfit firmly in control of the last-16 tie, even before the ball got rolling at the Allianz. Their grip was strengthened even further after just 10 minutes as Lewandowski was first fouled by Willy Caballero in the Chelsea box and then able to dust himself off to fire past the Argentine to make it 1-0 on the night, 4-0 on aggregate. Lewandowski turned provider just 14 minutes later, laying off to Perisic to make it 2-0 after Thomas Müller pounced on some ponderous play from Chelsea. Tammy Abraham’s tap-in pulled one back just before the break for the Londoners but it did little to lighten the visitors’ task.
By the time Bayern returned for the second half, they did so with a 5-1 aggregate lead further fattened by their three away goals and in the knowledge that it would take a turnaround of epic proportions for Chelsea to progress. But Hansi Flick’s side certainly didn’t rest on their laurels and continued to exert their control on the match after the break. Lewandowski and Müller both went close to extending Bayern’s handsome lead, which substitute Tolisso eventually did as he volleyed home Lewandowski’s sublime cross, before the Pole rubber stamped the Bundesliga champions’ place in the last-eight with his second of the night. With Lionel Messi inspiring Barcelona’s victory over Napoli on the same evening, Bayern will now take on the Catalan club in a one-legged quarter-final at Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz on Friday, 14 August.
Match stats
- Bayern have been crowned European champions five times before, and are bidding to emulate the 2012/13 ensemble that lifted a Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Champions League treble.
- Lewandowski has now scored 53 goals in all competitions in 2019/20, with his 13 Champions League goals more than any other player in this season’s tournament.
- Bayern have won each of their last 17 matches in all competitions - a run that includes the two victories over Chelsea. They have also won all eight of their Champions League fixtures so far this term, scoring 31 times and conceding just six goals in the process.
- The 29-time Bundesliga champions have lost only one of their 26 UEFA ties in which they won the away first leg, going out to Inter Milan in the 2010/11 Champions League round of 16.
- The record champions have won 30 of 33 competitive matches under Flick, scoring 104 goals and conceding just 24.
- Nicklas Süle’s second half appearance was his first competitive outing since injuring himself against Augsburg on Matchday 8, on 19 October last year.
Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) - Kimmich (Odriozola 71’), Boateng (Süle 64’), Alaba, Davies - Goretzka, Thiago (Tolisso 71’) - Gnabry (Martinez 81’), Müller, Perisic (Coutinho 64’) - Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Hoffmann, Cuisance, Hernandez, Tillman, Musiala, Arrey-Mbi
Out: Coman (muscular), Pavard (ankle), Zirkzee (foot)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Chelsea: Caballero - James, Christensen, Zouma, Emerson - Barkley, Kante, Kovacic - Hudson-Odoi, Abraham (Giroud 81’), Mount
Unused subs: Kepa, Cumming, Rüdiger, Batshuayi, Tomori, Broja, Lawrence, Maatsen, Bate, Simeu
Out: Alonso (suspended), Azpilicueta (hamstring), Gilmour (knee), Jorginho (suspended), Pedro (shoulder), Pulisic (hamstring), Willian (not included)
Coach: Frank Lampard
Watch: ALL of Lewandowski's Bundesliga-best 34 goals in 2019/20!
As it happened!
FULL TIME!
Bayern ease into the quarter-finals, where they will face Barcelona next week. They weren't always at their best here, but were clinical when they needed to be. Lewandowski was sensational, however, with two goals and two assists.
90' ADDED TIME
There'll be two added minutes of play.
89' DAVIES HURT
Caballero helps him stretch his leg. He looks to have a touch of cramp in his right calf.
87' BACK-HEEL CONTROL FROM LEWY
It doesn't lead to anything but boy does it look good! Lewandowski casually controls and passes all in one move, back-heeling the ball straight to Müller. What a game he's had today.
84' GOAL! LEWY AT THE DOUBLE!
Odriozola scampers forward down the right and stands up a cross into the box. Lewandowski charges on to it and thumps a header back across goal and into the corner. Two goals, two assists for him tonight.
83' SÜLE STINGS CABALLERO'S PALMS
Müller plays a corner from the right short to Coutinho, who in turn plays it on to Süle. His thundering long-range drive is well saved by Caballero.
81' MARTINEZ ON FOR GNABRY
Bayern give the ball away cheaply in midfield, allowing Chelsea to attack. Kante has a go from the edge of the box, but it's wide of the target.
Moments later, Martinez comes on for Gnabry, while Giroud replaces Abraham up front for Chelsea.
76' GOAL! TOLISSO ON TARGET!
Coutinho twists and turns on the edge of the Chelsea area before playing it to Lewandowski wide on the left. His left-footed cross is inch perfect for Tolisso to volley home unmarked from close range.
72' COUTINHO HITS THE ROOF OF THE NET
Goretzka presses Caballero into a mistake as he attempts to pass out from the back, with the ball eventually landing at the feet of Coutinho, 25 yards out. He lets fly with a swerving effort, but it tickles the roof of the net as it whistles over.
70' TWO MORE SUBS FOR BAYERN
Odriozola replaces Kimmich at right-back, with Tolisso coming on for Thiago in midfield.
69' GOOD FROM BARKLEY
Barkely is fouled by Thiago on the edge of the Bayern area, giving Chelsea a free-kick in a dangerous position. Barkley takes it himself, but strikes the ball straight into the wall.
66' LEWANDOWSKI FIZZES A SHOT WIDE
Chelsea can't quite clear their lines as Bayern attack, with Kimmich eventually heading the ball to Lewandowski on the right side of the box. He takes it on the volley, but it deflects off Zouma and goes wide.
64' DOUBLE SUB FROM BAYERN
Boateng is taken off and replaced by Süle, while Coutinho takes Coutinho's place on the left side of attacking midfield.
61' MÜLLER MUST SCORE!
A lovely run and cross from Davies down the left to pick out Müller, arriving on Chelsea's six-yard box. He takes the volley first time but doesn't catch it quite right, and the ball strikes the ground before bouncing over. Müller shouts at himself in frustration.
60' BOATENG BACK
After some stretching on the sidelines and a burst of magic spray, Boateng is back on the pitch. Niklas Süle had been warming-up just in case.
57' BOATENG DOWN
The Bayern centre-back remains on the ground after chasing a long ball over the top, under pressure from Hudson-Odoi. He headed the ball back to Neuer, but pounded the turf in pain, clutching his right leg. He's receiving treatment on the field from the team doctor.
53' DAVIES DENIED BY ZOUMA
Thiago puts in a brilliant tackle in midfield to win the ball, which falls to Lewandowski. He plays it to his left to the onrushing Davies, whose attempted shot is blocked by Zouma's lunge.
49' MOUNT TESTS NEUER
A long ball over the top catches Bayern off guard and Mount dashes through on goal. He's over on the left-side of the penalty area and has no teammates with him, so goes for goal himself, drilling a low shot at Neuer's near post that the goalkeeper saves well.
47' NICE FROM BAYERN
Chelsea have started aggressively and are pressing high and in numbers as they look to gain a foothold in the match. Bayern play through it and Lewandowksi's pass out to the right to Gnabry opens things up. The Germany international tries a first-time ball into the middle, but Caballero reads his intentions and dashes off his line to smother.
46’ SECOND HALF!
We’re off again in Munich. No changes from either side at the break.
As it stands, Bayern will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals as the Spanish side lead Napoli 3-1 on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
HALF-TIME!
Bayern lead and have a surely insurmountable 5-1 aggregate advantage, leaving Chelsea needing to score another four times to go through. The hosts have been better throughout, but will need to remain focused in the second half as Chelsea have had a couple of dangerous opportunities.
44' GOAL! ABRAHAM REDUCES THE DEFICIT!
Chelsea get one back right on the stroke of half-time. Neuer dives at full stretch to intercept a cross from the left, but he can't hold it and the ball falls kindly for Abraham, who taps in from close range.
42' PROMISING FROM CHELSEA
James whips in a deep cross from the right that Mount does well to keep in. He nudges it back into the Bayern box from the byline, but Boateng is the first to it and can clear.
40' SUPERB FROM PERISIC
Perisic talks on James on the outside before getting to the byline on the left and pulling a ball across the face of goal. Müller darts in at the near post, but his flick is blocked by Caballero.
34' LEWANDOWSKI HAS A GO
The Bayern striker unleashes a powerful shot from range, but it's blocked by Zouma.
30' JUST WIDE FROM GNABRY!
Lovely play from Bayern around the edge of the Chelsea area. Müller dinks an inviting ball out to Gnabry, whose first-time effort only narrowly goes wide. That was very nearly 3-0.
28' DISALLOWED CHELSEA GOAL
Hudson-Odoi thinks he's pulled one back for Chelsea with a lovely curling shot from the edge of the box, but it's chalked off for offside after a VAR review.
24' GOAL! PERISIC DOUBLES THE LEAD!
That's surely the outcome of the tie beyond doubt now. Müller does superbly to win the ball in midfield and play it to Lewandowski, who holds it up ball and bides his time before sliding a pass to his right to the unmarked Perisic. It's a simple tap-in for the Croatian, but an important one.
22' BOATENG SOLID
Chelsea try to find Hudson-Odoi with a diagonal ball forward from the right, but Boateng is alive to the danger and flicks the ball clear as it drops over his shoulder.
20' ALL BAYERN
The home side try to get forward - again down their right flank - and although the move peters out as Kimmich's pass goes all the way through to Caballero, it's indicative that Bayern are doing the attacking, and Chelsea chasing the game.
17' ACROBATIC EFFORT FROM GORETZKA
Perisic does well to dig out a cross from a difficult angle on the left. It's headed out to the edge of the box, where Goretzka is arriving. He attempts an ambitious sideways scissor-kick, but it sails well off target.
14' OVER FROM MÜLLER
Alaba sends Davies galloping down the left. He makes good headway before spying Müller in the middle of the pitch, picking him out with an excellent pass. The 30-year-old has time to shoot and you'd fancy him to score, but his effort whistles just over the bar.
10' GOAL! LEWANDOWSKI OPENS THE SCORING!
The Bayern marksman dusts himself off and takes the spot-kick himself. Caballero, who was booked for the foul, guesses the right way but can't keep it out.
That's now 12 Champions League goals for the Pole this season, and 65 overall. Not to mention that Chelsea's seemingly impossible task has just become that much harder.
8' PENALTY FOR BAYERN!
Lewandowski beats the offside trap and is played through on goal. He takes a touch around Caballero and is brought down. Initially the referee gives Chelsea a free-kick for offside, but reverses his decision after a VAR review...
6' BAYERN TARGETING EMERSON
Alaba pinged a long diagonal ball from left to right to Gnabry early on, and now it's clear that Bayern's players are trying to get Gnabry into the game down their right flank.
Presumably because Emerson, playing at left-back for the injured Azpilicueta today, has only made 20 appearances all season and is a potential weak link.
3' ALABA DRILLS WIDES
Bayern have settled first and after a spell stroking the ball around, they win a corner. It's cleared, but only as far as Alaba, who's a good 30 yards from goal. He tries his luck from distance, but his daisy-cutter goes wide of the target.
1' KICK-OFF!
Chelsea get the ball rolling at the Allianz Arena. Here we go!
PRE-MATCH FORMALITIES
The players are lining up on the pitch, the anthem is blaring out. It's almost go time...
WARM-UPS UNDER WAY
There's just under 10 minutes until kick-off. Both teams are out on the pitch, limbering up for the game.
TRIGGER HAPPY BAYERN
The Reds lead the way in a number of stats in the Champions League this term: they have scored more goals (27), had more attempts at goal (166) and more attempts on target (70) than any other side.
Lewandowski is the competition's top marksman on 11, and will be keen to be on target again here after slipping down from joint-fourth to fifth in the all-time chart yesterday following Karim Benzema's strike (his 65th overall) in Real Madrid's defeat to Manchester City.
BEST-MARK FOR MÜLLER
This is Thomas Müller's 112th game in the Champions League, pulling him level with former teammate Philipp Lahm as the German player with most appearances in the competition.
NO COMPLACENCY FROM FLICK
His side may have three away goals already, putting them in pole position to go through, but Bayern boss Hansi Flick is taking nothing for granted.
"It's important that you have the necessary respect," the 55-year-old said in the build-up. "Chelsea have nothing to lose and will give it everything they've got."
BARCELONA OR NAPOLI UP NEXT
The winner of this tie will book their place in the Champions League finals tournament, which is to be held in Portugal.
Consisting of single knockout matches - rather than the customary two-legged home and away ties - Bayern would face either Barcelona or Napoli (who play at the same time today) in the quarter-finals in Lisbon on Friday 14 August.
The semi-finals will be played on 18/19 August, and the final on Sunday 23 August.
REFEREE
The official for this game is Romanian referee Ovidiu Alin Hategan, who takes charge of his fourth Champions League encounter in the 2019/20 season.
He previously oversaw Borussia Dortmund's goalless draw at home to Barcelona in the group stage, as well as Chelsea's 1-0 win away to Ajax and Atalanta's 4-3 triumph over Valencia.
NO ZIRKZEE
The 19-year-old Bayern youngster would not have started anyway given Lewandowski's presence, but has now been ruled out with a foot injury.
THE BIG BREAKOUT
It's worth noting that the win at Stamford Bridge was particularly notable for Alphonso Davies putting the world on notice with a supreme display in that Bayern win. The Canada international - who grew up as a Chelsea fan - has grown in his new role at left-back and will take some dislodging from the spot.
NO SHOCKS FROM THE VISITORS
Chelsea haven't sprung any great surprises in their team selection either, although N'Golo Kante starts for the first time since June following injury and Tammy Abraham leads the line in place of Olivier Giroud.
BAYERN AS EXPECTED
Flick does indeed go with Kimmich at right-back and Thiago in midfield, with Bayern lining up just as we predicted earlier. A particularly encouraging sight is Süle's place on the bench as the Germany international is eased back into the first team fold following long-term injury.
90 MINUTES TO GO
A gentle reminder that we have just a nudge over an hour-and-a-half until we get underway at the Allianz Arena. We'll also have team news as soon as they drop, which should be fairly soon...
THE HISTORY
Bayern have met Chelsea five times in total down the years (W3, L2) and Lampard, who leads the visitors from the dugout tonight, was in the side and scored in the shootout when the Blues beat Die Bayern 5-4 on penalties in the 2012 final. Bayern got penalty revenge with 2013 UEFA Super Cup glory over Chelsea, a match Lampard also featured in. Jerome Boateng, Thomas Müller, and Manuel Neuer are the only ones in the current squad to have played in both those matches for Bayern.
TREBLE THINKING
Bayern put themselves in a great position to reach the quarters thanks to that 3-0 win in the first leg, and if they complete the job tonight they will face either Barcelona or Napoli in a one-legged quarter-final in Portugal on 14 August, where the remainder of the rejigged tournament will take place in one-off ties. Should Bayern complete a stunning treble, it will be the second in their history after they did so in in 2012/13 - the year they saw off rivals Borussia Dortmund in the UCL showpiece.
KIMMICH TO RIGHT-BACK?
One of the biggest questions to be answered tonight is whether Flick moves Joshua Kimmich back to right-back in the place of the injured Benjamin Pavard. The Bayern coach did exactly that as they saw off Marseille at their training complex last week, with Thiago Alcantara restored in midfield. It seems to be the most likely of the many options Flick has in replacing Pavard.
LEWY POWER
Bayern ended the Bundesliga season 20 games unbeaten (W19, D1) and a huge chunk of their success so far this season has been down to their Polish striker, Lewandowski. He has 51 goals to his name in all competitions this season, with 11 in six in the Champions League and was a shoe-in to lift this year's Ballon d'Or before the award was put on ice. He will, once again, take some stopping tonight.
BAYERN FLYING
The hosts have won 14 matches on the spin since defeating the Londoners in the first leg more than five months ago and secured an eighth successive Bundesliga crown after the restart. Chelsea went on to finish fourth in the English Premier League and both teams last played in domestic cup finals. Hansi Flick's side saw off Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 to lift the DFB Cup at the start of July and Frank Lampard's men lost out to Arsenal in the FA Cup final a week ago today.
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