Reds down Lyon and advance to the final

FC Bayern beat Olympique Lyon 3-0 on Wednesday night, advancing to the Champions League final for the first time since the 2012/13 treble season. Serge Gnabry put Bayern ahead and doubled the lead in the first half, Robert Lewandowski rounding off the scoreline in the closing stages. Bayern will take on Paris Saint-Germain in the final on Sunday night.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Joshua Kimmich, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Thiago and Leon Goretzka featured in a twin holding role behind Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Ivan Perišić, with hitman Lewandowski up front. Niklas Süle, Kingsley Coman, Philippe Coutinho, Benjamin Pavard and Corentin Tolisso came on for Boateng, Perišić, Gnabry, Goretzka and Thiago in the second half.

Serge shines

Once referee Matéu Lahoz whistled play underway, the clash was evenly-balanced for 20 minutes, with Bayern dominating possession and the French side looking to strike on the break. An early scare came when Thiago gave away possession in midfield, Maxence Caqueret setting up Memphis Depay, who rounded Neuer but hit the side-netting. Goretzka mishit the ball following a one-two with Lewandowski, the ball almost spinning inside the far post, but keeper Anthony Lopes made a last-ditch save. Toko Ekambi hit the post at the other end, but Bayern slowly but surely asserted their authority and were rewarded when Gnabry got the ball on the right, cut inside and unleashed a belter into the top corner of the net.

A Thiago free-kick soon found Müller in the box, but the native Bavarian mishit the ball. Gnabry drew another save from Lopes and Lewandowski directed a header over, but a Perišić cross soon found the striker, who saw his effort parried, with Gnabry on hand to mop up and round off his brace. A Gnabry cross only just evaded Lewandowski, and Lahoz blew for half-time.

Lewy seals it

Bayern almost closed out the meeting after the restart, but Perišić saw his effort saved. Lyon enjoyed a spell in command now, Marcelo heading straight at Neuer, who made an outstanding save against Toko Ekambi. The contest was long on aggression but short on chances now, the men from Munich upping the pressure towards the end.

Sub Coutinho saw an effort deflected wide before he had the ball in the back of the net, but the linesman's flag was raised for offside. Lewandowski banished any last lingering doubts when he rose high to meet a Kimmich free-kick and headed home. Müller miscued a header and Tolisso fired over before Lahoz blew for full-time.

Match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen