Victorious 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg, Bayern Munich did not tremble to compost their ticket to the Final 8 in Lisbon where they will meet FC Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Robert Lewandowski was decisive again, with two goals and two assists.
The feat did not take place. Never in the history of the European Cup had a team that fell 3-0 at home overturned the situation, Chelsea will be no exception. Swept 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on 25 February in the first leg, the Blues were torpedoed (4-1) at the Allianz Arena in the round of 16 of the Champions League. Frank Lampard may have proclaimed “we can do it” on the eve of the match, but the Blues’ glimmer of hope quickly shattered on the night in Munich. Very diminished due to the suspensions of Jorginho and Marcos Alonso, injuries to César Azpilicueta, Christian Pulisic, Pedro, Billy Gilmour and the absence of Willian (pending departure), Chelsea left possession at the entrance premises. A domination that quickly materialized in goal, when Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty that he had provoked himself, by hooking Willy Caballero following a deep pass from Serge Gnabry (1-0, 10th).
And despite a large cumulative gap, the Bavarian machine continued to crush a frail Chelsea. Thomas Muller fired a shot that ended his run just over Caballero’s frame (14th), before Robert Lewandowski volleyed back another offering from Gnabry… again next (18th). In the end, it was Ivan Perisic, shifted by Robert Lewandowski in the middle of the box, who made the Blues bend the spine, shaking Chelsea’s nets a second time (2-0, 25th). In the shelter, Bayern then raised their feet and allowed the first London incursions. And if Callum Hudson-Odoi thought he was launching an unlikely remontada by lodged in Neuer’s niche with a marvel of curled strike from outside the box (28th) – the video refereeing finally quickly cooled his ardour -, It was a hand foul by Manuel Neuer, on an innocuous Emerson cross, that gave Tammy Abraham the opportunity to close the gap, pushing the ball into the empty goal (2-1 44th).
Bayern spin and ride on Chelsea
On his return from the locker room, robert Lewandowski-Serge Gnabry was still doing damage in the English rearguard, the former shifting the second to the left, the latter then delivering a tense centre, finally cleared in panic by the Blues. But if Chelsea were to discover themselves, it was also because Lampard’s formation dared more. Mason Mount (48th) and Ross Barkley (49th) made some interesting breakthroughs. Less sovereign, the Rekordmeister decided to slow down the pace by putting his foot on the leather. It was a saving decision, as Thomas Muller was close to scoring in his turn, taking over a cross from Alphonso Davies on the hour of play (61st). It was also the moment chosen by Hans-Dieter Flick to make his first changes, Niklas S-le replacing a slightly affected Jerome Boateng, while a generally disappointing Ivan Peri-io left his place to Philippe Coutinho (63rd).
Bayern then created new goal actions – through Lewandowski (66th), Thiago Alcantara and David Alaba (67th) – before carrying out a squad review: offering playing time to Tolisso and Odriozola, Alcantara and Kimmich taking their place on the bench (70th). Not enough to stop the German steamroller, which flowed a little more Chelsea thanks to a replay of Corentin Tolisso on a service of… Robert Lewandowski (3-0, 76′). The same one who, less than ten minutes later, offered himself a double of a powerful header (4-1, 84′). An achievement allowing the Pole to surpass Karim Benzema in the ranking of the top scorers in the history of the competition with 66 goals. A week after losing in the FA cup final to Arsenal(2-1),Chelsea stumbled heavily in Germany (7-1 cumulatively). Whatever the important thing is elsewhere, the direct qualification for the next Champions League is in the pocket. For Bayern, the next leg will be a Champions League quarter-final against FC Barcelona on Friday 14 August in Lisbon.
