Robert Lewandowski hits the winner as Bayern Munich overcome Eintracht Frankfurt to reach DFB Cup final
Robert Lewandowski scored his 45th goal in his 38th competitive game of the season to help Bayern Munich reach the DFB Cup final for a third successive year in a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in their semi-final at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
Bayern Munich 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Goals: 1-0 Perisic (14'), 1-1 Da Costa (69'), 2-1 Lewandowski (74')
Hansi Flick’s side were clearly in the mood right from kick-off and Thomas Müller had a header cleared off the line as early as the sixth minute. Müller was involved again moments later when he drilled a ball across the six-yard box for Lewandowski, only for the Polish forward to see the ball squirm through his legs with the goal at his mercy. The home team looked particularly dangerous down the left wing as Ivan Perisic tormented Almamy Toure with his pace and trickery, so it was no surprise when the Croatia international opened the scoring, heading in from Müller’s clipped cross. Kingsley Coman had the best of a number of opportunities to add to the scoreline, but he fired wide when it seemed easier to score from a devilish Alphonso Davies cross. Manuel Neuer was largely untroubled at the other end of the pitch, and a long-range shot from former teammate Sebastian Rode that whizzed narrowly wide was the only moment in the first half that will have caused his pulse to quicken.
Frankfurt were much improved after the interval though, with Dominik Kohr snapping in midfield and Andre Silva and Martin Hinteregger having sights of goal, however brief. Still, those openings encouraged the Eagles to continue to get forward and they were rewarded in the 69th minute when substitutes Daichi Kamada and Danny Da Costa combined, with the former wriggling past Joshua Kimmich and Thiago to tee up Da Costa to fire in the equaliser from 10 yards. Their joy did not last long though, as Bayern switched gears and immediately looked dangerous. The winner came just five minutes later from the most predictable of boots – that of Lewandowski – who slid in at the back post following neat build-up between Davies and Kimmich to seal Bayern’s place in the final against Bayer Leverkusen in Berlin on 5 July.
Match stats
- Lewandowski has four DFB Cup goals this season, putting him level with Rouwen Hennings. The Poland international could now become the first player ever to finish as top scorer in four consecutive seasons.
- Neuer is one away from equalling Oliver Kahn’s DFB Cup record of 33 clean sheets. The current Bayern skipper has even played 15 games fewer, not conceding in 60 per cent of matches – a competition record.
- Thomas Müller joined Sepp Maier and Gerd Müller at the top of Bayern’s internal standings for DFB Cup games won (47).
- Hinteregger scored a brace from corners, as well as an own goal, in Frankfurt’s 5-2 loss at Bayern just 18 days prior to this semi-final.
- Eintracht’s sole victory at the Allianz Arena came in the DFB Cup but against 1860 Munich in the 2005/06 quarter-finals (3-1). They haven’t beaten Bayern in the Bavarian capital since November 2000 (2-1).
- However, Frankfurt did beat Bayern 3-1 in the 2018 final in Berlin to lift their fifth DFB Cup title, exacting revenge for the 2006 final where Claudio Pizarro scored the only goal of the game for the Munich club. Marco Russ featured in both of those matches.
Line-ups
Bayern: Neuer (c) – Pavard, Boateng, Alaba, Davies – Kimmich, Goretzka (Martinez 86') – Coman (Thiago 61'), Müller, Perisic (Hernandez 61') – Lewandowski
Unused subs: Ulreich, Früchtl, Odriozola, Singh, Zirkzee
Out: Coutinho (ankle), Cuisance (gastroenteritis), Gnabry (back), Mai (ankle), Süle (match fitness), Tolisso (ankle)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Frankfurt:Trapp – Toure (Da Costa 66'), Abraham (c), Hinteregger, N'Dicka – Ilsanker (Torro 77'), Rode, Kohr (Dost 77'), Chandler – Gacinovic (Kamada 66') – Silva
Unused subs: Rönnow, de Guzman, Sow, Hasebe, Durm
Out: Kostic (suspended), Fernandes (calf), Paciencia (thigh)
Coach: Adi Hütter
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As it happened!
FULL TIME!
Referee Marco Fritz blows his whistle and it's all over. Bayern were much the better team int he first half, but Frankfurt gave as good as they got after the break and deservedly scored an equaliser. Lewandowski's finish with quarter of an hour left on the clock was ultimately the difference in the end, as Flick's men now prepare to face Bayer Leverkusen in the final on 5 July.
90+4' OVER FROM LEWANDOWSKI
The striker has a speculative shot from distance but it sails over Trapp's bar.
90' FOUR ADDED MINUTES
We're into stoppage time now. Can Frankfurt find another equaliser?
87' ABRAHAM DENIES LEWANDOWSKI
Müller sprints forward on the counter and after drawing two defenders towards him, plays the ball through to Lewandowski. It's slightly behind him though, and he has to check his run, giving Abraham a vital fraction of a second to get back and put Lewandowski off, and his shot ends up wide of the target.
86' MARTINEZ FOR GORETZKA
Frankfurt have been throwing themselves into the tackles in the last few minutes as the seek an edge in their efforts to get an equaliser. Flick responds to that physical approach by bringing on midfield enforcer Martinez.
82' DAVIES WIDE ON THE RIGHT
Bayern's substitutions have shuffled their players about a bit as Hernandez drops into the left-back slot. Davies has taken up a position wide on the right - from where he was involved in Lewandowski's goal - while Goretzka is covering the opposite flank.
79' OVER FROM TORRO
It's almost an inspired move once again from Hütter as Kamada whips in a free-kick from the left. Torro gets his head on it on the edge of the six-yard box, but his effort goes over.
77' TWO MORE CHANGES FOR FRANKFURT
Hütter will be hoping these attacking substitutions are equally effective, as Dost comes on for Kohr, and Torro for Ilsanker.
74' GOAL! LEWANDOWSKI RESTORES BAYERN'S LEAD
Bayern have increased the tempo in the last couple of minutes and edge ahead again, with Lewandowski sliding in at the back post to tap in Kimmich's flick. It's initially disallowed for an offside call on Davies in the build-up, as the Canadian passes to Kimmich, but following a VAR review the goal is given!
72' JUST REWARDS
Frankfurt have been bolder in this half, snapping at Bayern's heels and not affording them as much time on the ball. Kohr in particular has been a menace in midfield and their equaliser is far from undeserved.
69' INSTANT DIVIDENDS!
What a masterstroke from Hütter. Kamada causes Kimmich all sorts of bother on the edge of the Bayern box and after shaking of his tackle, and a subsequent one from Thiago, his low ball across the penalty area his smashed home at the back post by Da Costa!
66' DOUBLE CHANGE FOR FRANKFURT
Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter is looking to inject some fresh impetus into his side as they search for an equaliser, bringing on playmaker Kamada for Gacinovic, and replacing Toure with the more attack-minded Da Costa on the right.
63' HINTEREGGER HEADER
The big Eintracht defender rises highest to meet Rode's free-kick from the left, but he can't get enough power in his header to beat Neuer.
61' DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION FROM BAYERN
Hernandez comes on for Perisic while Thiago takes Coman's place, pushing Goretzka further forward into a more attacking role.
60' LOVELY CROSS FROM KOHR
The Frankfurt midfielder floats a brilliant cross at head-height across the face of goal. It only needs a touch to go in, but there's not a white shirt in sight and it ends up going harmlessly out of play.
58' FIRST BAYERN SHOT
The ball falls to Kimmich just inside the Frankfurt box and he takes a touch to settle himself before shooting. It's a good effort but straight at Trapp, who makes a routine save.
56' DECENT SPELL FROM FRANFKURT
The Eagles win a few tackles and put together some nice passes, culminating in Silva tearing into the box down the left. He tries to wriggle past Pavard but can't and ends up back-heeling the ball to nobody in particular.
53' NICE TRY HINTEREGGER
A training-ground corner routine from Frankfurt as Rode pings the ball from the left to Hinteregger, arriving on the edge of the box. He tries to take it on the volley, but miscues his shot and Bayern clear.
51' ITTY-BITTY
The second half seems to be following the same pattern as the first, with crunching tackles all over the pitch as the teams seek to assert their authority.
48' INVITING CROSS FROM MÜLLER
The 30-year-old pops up in space wide on the right a curls a low cross towards the front post. He's looking for Lewandowski, but a Frankfurt defender just gets there ahead of him.
SECOND HALF!
Frankfurt get us under way once again, no changes from either side at the break.
HALF-TIME!
Bayern are deservedly ahead at the break after dominating for much of the game and creating the better chances. Frankfurt have stuck well to their task, however, and are battling hard, albeit without ever seriously troubling Neuer as yet.
44' YELLOW FOR PERISIC
Perisic receives the first booking of the game for a late challenge on Kohr. Frankfurt have a free-kick from deep and pack the box, but Hinteregger's attempted pass merely rolls out of play.
42' GLIMPSE FOR MÜLLER
Frankfurt struggle to clear their lines and the ball falls to Müller, about 20 yards from goal. He's got time and space to line up a shot, but instead tries to slide in Coman on the overlap. Coman wasn't expecting the pass, though, and N'dicka darts in to clear.
39' REASON FOR OPTIMISM
This is a lovely move from Frankfurt as N'dicka pings a crossfield pass over to the right to Toure, who instantly touches it forward to Silva. The Portuguese forward skips past Boateng and floats an inviting ball into the middle, but there are no white shirts nearby to make the most of it.
35' LAST-GASP FROM ABRAHAM
Coman swings in an inviting cross from the right that almost goes all the way through to Perisic at the back post, but Abraham manages to get a toe on the ball to prevent what would likely have been Bayern's second goal.
31' LEWANDOWSKI DEFLECTED WIDE
The 31-year-old turns his marker brilliantly inside the box and gets a shot away, but Trapp makes a superb save to tip it wide.
30' FIRST SHOT FROM FRANKFURT
Rode tries his luck from distance against his former club, but misses the target by a couple of yards.
28' OVER FROM COMAN
Gacinovic loses the ball a bit too casually in the Bayern half and suddenly the Reds are on the attack. Goretzka clips a deft pass over the top of the defence, sending Coman through on goal. He's slightly over to the right and has Abraham bearing down on him and rushes his shot a bit, sending it high over the bar.
26' COMAN SURELY... BUT NO!
Lovely stuff down the left again from Bayern as Davies latches on to a pass inside Toure. He delivers a brilliant ball to the back post, where Coman is arriving. He's got an open goal to aim for on the edge of the six-yard box, but the pace and bounce of the ball are tricky and he volleys just wide. The Frenchman holds his head in frustration; he knows he should have buried that one.
24' LEWANDOWSKI CLOSE
Perisic again gets behind Toure and picks out Lewandowski at the front post The striker turns and smashes a low left-footed drive across the face of goal, but it's just too strong for Müller to get to.
22' BAYERN SHARP
Flick's side are dominating again and Frankfurt can't really get out of their own half. Bayern just look a yard quicker and are first to all the second balls.
20' PERISIC CAUSING PROBLEMS
Frankfurt haven't really got to grips with Perisic yet and again he gets around Toure to the byline. The Croatian's cut-back is looking for Lewandowski, but is just behind him and Frankfurt manage to clear.
18' PROMISING FORM FRANKFURT
The Eagles put together a few passes in midfield for the first time in the game and the ball is worked wide to Chandler on the left. He takes on Pavard on the outside and gets a cross away, but it spoons off his boot and goes high into the stands.
14' GOAL! PERISIC WITH THE OPENER!
Coman floats a lovely ball over the top of the Frankfurt defence for Lewandowski to chase. He's barged off it by Hinteregger on the edge of the Frankfurt box, but the ball falls straight to the feet of Müller, who dinks a perfect cross into the middle for the unmarked Perisic to head past Trapp. It's a fine goal and yet another assist for Müller, who set a new single-season Bundesliga record of 20 at the weekend.
11' FRANKFURT WARY
The visitors had started aggressively but that period of sustained pressure from Bayern has put them on edge. They have a chance to break on the counter down the left and Chandler has a bit of space, but when he looks up the only teammate he sees is Silva, surrounded by red shirts, and the move peters out.
8' BAYERN WANT IT
The hosts again find plenty of space down the left and this time Perisic's cross is a low one, looking for Goretzka, who's arriving late. A defender just gets a touch ahead of him to clear.
Bayern recycle the ball well though and now Müller side-foots a cross from the right across the face of goal. Lewandowski is charging in and must score - but the ball goes through is legs and Frankfurt breathe a sigh of relief!
6' OFF THE LINE!
Müller gets his head on Kimmich's delivery from the resulting corner and it beats Trapp but is cleared off the line at the back post by Silva.
5' TEASING PERISIC CROSS
The first real 'move' of the game from Bayern as they work it wide to the left to Perisic, who has time and space to curl in a cross. He gets good pace on it, but a Frankfurt defender is there to clear the danger.
3' FEISTY OPENING
Both teams are flying into the tackles in a bid to lay down an early marker. There are lots of high balls across the midfield, with neither side willing to give the other an inch so far.
1' KICK-OFF!
Thomas Müller gets the ball rolling for Bayern at the Allianz Arena.
FLICK: "WE'LL NEED TO BE FOCUSED"
His side may be the favourites here, but Bayern coach Flick is taking nothing for granted: "Frankfurt have a lot of experience in cup games. I'm expecting them to be really up for it. They've got a lot of quality and play with a great deal of passion. We'll need to be focused and minimise our mistakes."
HÜTTER: "YOU CAN'T STOP EVERY BAYERN ATTACK"
Frankfurt coach Adi Hütter knows full what to expect, having nursed a 5-2 league defeat to Bayern just a couple of weeks ago. "Obviously you can't stop every Bayern attack," he said at his pre-match press conference. "But we'll try everything. We need a perfect day and for them to have a bit of an off-day. Then anything's possible."
CUP HISTORY
This will be the sixth cup meeting between the teams. Bayern have won on three occasions to Frankfurt's two - the most recent of which was the Eagles' 3-1 triumph in the 2018 final. David Abraham is the only surviving member of that team in the starting XI for Frankfurt today, although Danny da Costa, Makoto Hasebe and Mijat Gacinovic also featured.
FRANKFURT TEAM NEWS
Filip Kostic misses out through to suspension, so Timothy Chandler takes his place on the left wing. Mijat Gacinovic plays in behind Andre Silva ahead of Daichi Kamada, while head coach Adi Hütter has gone for two no-nonsense central midfielders in Sebastian Rode and Domink Kohr.
BAYERN TEAM NEWS
It's largely as expected from Bayern coach Hansi Flick, with Leon Goretzka keeping his place in midfield ahead of Thiago and Jerome Boateng getting the nod in defence ahead of Lucas Hernandez. The only surprise is Serge Gnabry's absence, the Germany international missing out with a back complain. Ivan Perisic comes into attacking midfield in his stead.
HELLO AND WELCOME!
After Bayer Leverkusen booked their place in the final yesterday, Bayern and Frankfurt vie for their chance to join them. Stay tuned for all the build-up and live coverage!
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