Despite the 3-0 win in the first leg, everyone at Bayern had warned against cockiness or carelessness. But the double winner from Munich eliminated possible doubts against Chelsea early on. Now stands a
Munich (AP) - FC Bayern around the outstanding Robert Lewandowski starts with an impressive series of successes in the quarter-final spectacle with FC Barcelona.
With the 4: 1 (2: 1) in the second leg of the round of 16 against Chelsea, the soccer record champions celebrated their eighth win in the eighth game of this Champions League season and will be one of the champions for the title from August 12 to 23 in Lisbon of the big favorites. However, there is a high hurdle to face. "We have the necessary respect and will prepare well and hope that we can show our strengths," said Bayern coach Hansi Flick on Sky TV.
Almost six months after the 3-0 in the first leg, the double winner agreed on his second restart of the Corona season with goals from the outstanding Lewandowski (10th minute / penalty / 84th), Ivan Perisic (24th) and Corentin Tolisso (76th minute) .) in the best possible way for the big duel against Lionel Messi & Co in Portugal's capital.
"The anticipation is of course huge, we are going to Portugal with confidence," said David Alaba. "If you look at the last few weeks and months, we don't have to hide." Tammy Abraham (44th) scored for the Londoners. "The team did very well. I'm very satisfied, also with the result. Today I don't have much to complain about," Flick said before leaving for Portugal on Sunday, where the team is based in Lagos, around 300 kilometers from Lisbon will relate.
Eight years after the tearful final at home against the former championship winner Chelsea, there was a clear victory this time - even after the short preparation time of almost two weeks. There is now one week left until the quarter-finals on August 14th.
The Münchner Geister-Express cannot be stopped and has had twelve wins in twelve games without spectators during the coronavirus pandemic. Lewandowski is still in a goal mood, with his 13th competitive goal now with 53 goals in 44 competitive games of the season with Bayern. The Pole prepared the goals of Perisic and Tolisso. He is ready for the superstar duel against Messi.
165 days after the first leg, Bayern wiped possible doubts aside early on. Bayern got off to a powerful start and picked up where they left off before the break after the end of the Bundesliga. After a nice pass from Serge Gnabry, Lewandowski ran alone towards Chelsea keeper Willy Caballero. The 38-year-old brought the Poles down, but first a possible offside position was checked by video evidence.
Finally, however, Lewandowski was allowed to compete and scored his twelfth goal in the current competition. On the otherwise almost empty grandstand, board member Oliver Kahn was allowed to lean back and relax - especially when Perisic increased a little later. The Croat replaced the ailing winger Kingsley Coman and, somewhat surprisingly, was given preference over the Brazilian Philippe Coutinho. He came on in the 64th minute for the 2-0 goal scorer.
Before the hit, Thomas Müller fought for the ball in midfield and lived the commitment that Flick had demanded. After the pass from Müller, Lewandowski unselfishly put the ball across to Perisic, who only had to insert it from close range.
Coach Frank Lampard's guests, who had been weakened as a replacement, presented a disappointing performance overall. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer had to get the ball out of the gate for the first time in the 28th minute, but before the artistic shot of Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was once courted by the Munich team, template master Tammy Abraham was just offside.
With the clear lead in their backs and the practical certainty of qualifying for the quarter-finals, the hosts continued to dominate and left Chelsea little room, but at the top there was a little precision now and then after the break. The guest from London also took advantage of the sometimes (too) timid appearance on the defensive shortly before the break. Neuer couldn't hold a shot from Hudson-Odoi, Abraham pushed into the empty goal from four meters.
Neuer, on the other hand, had no trouble after the restart when Mason Mount attempted a shot from an acute angle (49th). A little later, the injury to Jérôme Boateng, who had to be treated on the knee after a rescue act (57th), continued playing for a short time, but was then substituted (63rd), caused significantly more unrest. Niklas Süle played his first competitive game since October 19, when he tore the second cruciate ligament of his career.
Through further changes (Alvaro Odriozola for Kimmich / 70th and Tolisso for Thiago / 71st) the Bavarian rhythm seemed to be lost a little when the Frenchman Tolisso scored the 3-1. It was Bayern's 30th goal in the first eight Champions League games of the season. In doing so, they equalized the record set by FC Barcelona, which scored 30 times after eight games in the 2011/12 season. And Lewandowski finally even set a new record.
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