Serge Gnabry scored a brace and Robert Lewandowski netted a third as Bayern Munich book their place in the UEFA Champions League final with a 3-0 victory over Lyon at the Estadio Jose Alvalade on Wednesday evening.
In powering FCB to victory, Gnabry became only the second German player to net a brace in a Champions League semi-final, following current teammate Thomas Müller back in 2012-13.
Lyon, conquerors of Manchester City in the quarterfinals, made a bright start to the game with Depay sending an early shot into the side netting and Toko Ekambi hitting the post.
But the German champions proved to be as clinical as ever, opening the scoring moments after that Ekambi miss.
Germany international forward Gnabry continued his spectacular season when he fired a powerful shot past Lopes and into the top corner to give the Bundesliga side the lead.
The former Arsenal youngster then tapped in a second just past the half-hour mark after Lewandowski’s shot was parried to him by the keeper.
2 – Serge Gnabry is only the second German player to net a brace in a Champions League semi-final, following current teammate Thomas Müller back in 2012-13 (two goals v Barcelona). Toughie. #UCL pic.twitter.com/Cw7K0usHxL
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 19, 2020
An energetic Lyon returned after the break but found a Bayern side happy to just keep possession for much of the half.
There were still chances for either side to change the scoreline, but Lewandowski and Coutinho were guilty of spurning the Germans’ chances.
That would change, though, with two minutes left on the clock when the Polish striker headed a third goal for the Bavarians to send Lyon back to France.
With that comfortable victory, Bayern Munich have set up a final date with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint Germain in what promises to be an epic encounter between attacking teams.