Reds beat Frankfurt and seal berth in Berlin

FC Bayern beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on Wednesday night, going through to the DFB Cup final for the 24th time. Bayern bossed the first half, Ivan Perišić handing them a deserved early lead. Frankfurt were more active in the second half and levelled the scores when Danny Da Costa netted midway through the first half, but Bayern responded only five minutes later, Robert Lewandowski restoring their lead.

The Bavarians started with Manuel Neuer in goal and Benjamin Pavard, Jérôme Boateng, David Alaba and Alphonso Davies in a back four. Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka featured in a twin holding role behind Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Perišić, with Lewandowski up front. Thiago and Lucas Hernández came on for Coman and Perišić after the hour, Martínez taking over from Goretzka in the closing stages.

One-way traffic and one goal

Once referee Marco Fritz whistled play underway at the Allianz Arena, the cup holders went straight onto the front foot, with Eintracht looking to strike on the break. Müller saw a header cleared off the line, a Perišić cross only just evading Lewandowski in the box, but a Müller cross soon invited Perišić to hand Bayern the lead with a fine diving header.

The men from Hesse were more solid for a spell, but Bayern upped the pressure around the half-hour, Coman firing over the bar before Lewandowski drew a fine save from netminder Kevin Trapp, although former Bayern man Sebastian Rode rifled wide from distance. Perišić saw an effort blocked, and Bayern's utter dominance had only yielded one goal at half-time.

Reds ease off

Clear-cut chances proved few and far between after the restart as Frankfurt made a better fist of it in a physical second half. Kimmich warmed Trapp's gloves, but Danny Da Costa beat Neuer with 20 minutes to go. Bayern went looking for a reply, Müller seeing an effort saved, but Lewandowski soon capitalised on a mix-up in the box to restore the lead.

The contest was long on aggression but short on chances now, and the final whistle meant the record cup winners will head back to Berlin for the third year in a row.

Bayern will be back in action on Saturday, when they entertain Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga. The DFB Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen is planned for 4 July.

Live match report for fcbayern.com by Greg Salmen