Robert Lewandowski celebrates against Chelsea. Imago/PA Images
SUPER SERGE
Alonso took the easy way out on a night when Lampard would have been looking for the exit after 60 minutes
Six seconds is all it took to end this Champions League last-16 tie ahead of the return leg in Munich next month, where the hosts hold a 3-0 lead and the visitors will be without Jorginho and Marcos Alonso due to suspension.
Robert Lewandowski won the header above Cesar Azpilicueta, directing it deftly towards teammate Serge Gnabry.
He then took one touch and returned the pass swiftly to the Polish talisman on the left wing.
Gnabry continued his run, Lewandowski played a perfectly-weighted through ball without flinching and the 24-year-old caressed his left-footed shot beyond Willy Cabalero.
Five touches were all that was needed.
Header. Touch. Pass. Pass. Goal.
Six seconds is all it took.
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Six seconds from Lewandowski’s forehead to the the bottom far corner in front of the delirious Bayern fans.
Six seconds to end this Champions League last-16 tie as a contest ahead of the return leg in Munich next month, where Bayern hold a 3-0 lead and the visitors will be without Jorginho and Marcos Alonso due to suspension.
It was Gnabry’s second goal of the night – his sixth in the competition having netted four against Tottenham in London at the beginning of October.
It came barely three minutes after he tapped into an empty net when he and Lewandowski combined so brilliantly in the box.
A night of total domination was capped off with a quarter of an hour to go when Lewandowski was gifted a tap in of his own following a sublime solo run down the flank by left back Alphonso Davies.
The teenager showed determination to win a breaking ball and then gracefully evaded a lunging sliding tackle from Andreas Christensen to lay it on a plate for his grateful teammate.
Gnabry (left) and Lewandowski celebrate together. Mike Egerton
Mike Egerton
It was game over, Chelsea having salt rubbed in their wounds when the influential Alonso took it upon himself to drag Lewandowski to the ground by his face.
It was the easy way out on a night when Frank Lampard would have been looking for the exit before Bayern were 2-0 up on the hour mark.
And yet it could have been so different.
It was Olivier Giroud’s Gazza moment.
Bayern had pummeled Chelsea for the first 34 minutes yet somehow hadn’t found the breakthrough.
Kingsley Coman sliced a shot wide in a good position from the inside right of the box early on. Lewandowski had an effort well blocked by Caballero while Thomas Muller, who is somehow only 30 years of age, flashed a fierce effort inches past the post from 20 yards.
Chelsea were barely able to get out of their own half yet, when they did, they almost made the visitors pay.
Almost.
Mason Mount wriggled free to find space on the left inside the box, his first-time ball fizzed across the face of goal invitingly but Giroud, all 6ft 4in of him, was a toe length away from prodding home.
Frank Lampard looks on with his side 3-0 down. EMPICS Sport
EMPICS Sport
It was reminiscent of a bleach blonde Paul Gascoigne coming so agonisingly close to a golden goal against Germany in the semi-final of Euro 96.
It was a rare ray of light – an indication they could create against a far superior side leading the German Bundesliga – on a night that has left Chelsea’s Champions Leagues hopes in tatters.
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These were the sort of nights that Lampard the player thrived in. As a manager it was a first knockout game in Europe’s premier competition.
He has time on his side to at least prove this is a level he belongs on as a coach and manager.
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Alonso took the easy way out on a night when Lampard would have been looking for the exit after 60 minutes
IT WAS GLORIOUS in its simplicity.
Devastating in its execution.
Robert Lewandowski won the header above Cesar Azpilicueta, directing it deftly towards teammate Serge Gnabry.
He then took one touch and returned the pass swiftly to the Polish talisman on the left wing.
Gnabry continued his run, Lewandowski played a perfectly-weighted through ball without flinching and the 24-year-old caressed his left-footed shot beyond Willy Cabalero.
Five touches were all that was needed.
Header. Touch. Pass. Pass. Goal.
Six seconds is all it took.
Six seconds from Lewandowski’s forehead to the the bottom far corner in front of the delirious Bayern fans.
Six seconds to end this Champions League last-16 tie as a contest ahead of the return leg in Munich next month, where Bayern hold a 3-0 lead and the visitors will be without Jorginho and Marcos Alonso due to suspension.
It was Gnabry’s second goal of the night – his sixth in the competition having netted four against Tottenham in London at the beginning of October.
It came barely three minutes after he tapped into an empty net when he and Lewandowski combined so brilliantly in the box.
A night of total domination was capped off with a quarter of an hour to go when Lewandowski was gifted a tap in of his own following a sublime solo run down the flank by left back Alphonso Davies.
The teenager showed determination to win a breaking ball and then gracefully evaded a lunging sliding tackle from Andreas Christensen to lay it on a plate for his grateful teammate.
It was game over, Chelsea having salt rubbed in their wounds when the influential Alonso took it upon himself to drag Lewandowski to the ground by his face.
It was the easy way out on a night when Frank Lampard would have been looking for the exit before Bayern were 2-0 up on the hour mark.
And yet it could have been so different.
It was Olivier Giroud’s Gazza moment.
Bayern had pummeled Chelsea for the first 34 minutes yet somehow hadn’t found the breakthrough.
Kingsley Coman sliced a shot wide in a good position from the inside right of the box early on. Lewandowski had an effort well blocked by Caballero while Thomas Muller, who is somehow only 30 years of age, flashed a fierce effort inches past the post from 20 yards.
Chelsea were barely able to get out of their own half yet, when they did, they almost made the visitors pay.
Almost.
Mason Mount wriggled free to find space on the left inside the box, his first-time ball fizzed across the face of goal invitingly but Giroud, all 6ft 4in of him, was a toe length away from prodding home.
It was reminiscent of a bleach blonde Paul Gascoigne coming so agonisingly close to a golden goal against Germany in the semi-final of Euro 96.
It was a rare ray of light – an indication they could create against a far superior side leading the German Bundesliga – on a night that has left Chelsea’s Champions Leagues hopes in tatters.
These were the sort of nights that Lampard the player thrived in. As a manager it was a first knockout game in Europe’s premier competition.
He has time on his side to at least prove this is a level he belongs on as a coach and manager.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Bayern Munich Champions League Chelsea Frank Lampard SUPER SERGE