Serge Gnabry’s double stirs Bayern Munich into the Champions League final

German forward Serge Gnabry rustle up a storm for FC Bayern Munchen, and just about almost single-handedly shoots Olympique Lyon out of the Champions League in a 3-0 victory for the Bundesliga champions.

Almost shortly after Toko Ekambi hit the post for Lyon, Serge Gnabry rammed the ball into the top corner after a cross-field pass from Joshua Kimmich on the opposite side.

The goal broke the deadlock and turned the tide in Bayern’s favour following the French side’s bright start, adding the first ingredient for asuccessful entry into the final of Europe’s elite club competition.

A second quickly followed 12 minutes before the break when Robert Lewandowski’s slid effort was turned into Gnabry’s path by Lopes for the German to net a simple finish and his second of the game.

Gnabry becomes the third Bayern player to score two or more goals in a Champions League semi-final. Thomas Müller achieved this feat in 2013 when he bagged a brace against Barcelona, whereas Ivica Olic scored a hat-trick against tonight’s opponents Lyon in 2010.

https://youtu.be/kYYNDo2Xoh8

After half-time, Toko Ekambi got just another clear cut opportunity in a one on one situation with Bayern’s goalie Manuel Neuer but fired straight at Manuel Neuer, before Lewandowski’s towering header from a free-kick (88) – his 55th goal of the season – proved the cherry on the cake as Bayern set up a Champions League final date with PSG.

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Bayern came into Wednesday’s semi-final as favourites to win both the game and tournament itself, but it could have been a very different last night for Hansi Flick’s side had Memphis Depay not fired wide on the break early on after rounding Neuer.

Lyon were made to rue losing that early miss and several others during the game as the player who was told he is not good enough to play for West Bromwich Albion by manager Tony Pulis at a point in time, Serge Gnabry, rose above all.

Bayern’s win ends their run of having lost the previous four Champions League semi-finals in which they had appeared. It also keeps them on course for a treble of trophies in Hansi Flick’s stellar debut campaign as a coach.

Sunday’s final promises to be a thriller, pitting arguably the best side in world football against one of the planet’s finest forward lines.

Stats and facts from the match (backed by Opta)

• Bayern Munich will play in the final of the European Cup/Champions League for the 11th time in the club’s history (equalling AC Milan’s record), with only Real Madrid (16) having participated in more.
• Lyon have been eliminated in both of their Champions League semi-final ties, with both coming against Bayern Munich – they have failed to score a single goal across the games, while conceding seven in return (previously 0-4 on aggregate in 2009-10).
• Bayern Munich have now won 10 consecutive games in the Champions League, equalling the longest winning streak by a team in the competition’s history (achieved by Real Madrid in 2015 and Bayern themselves in 2013).
• Bayern Munich have scored 42 goals in the Champions League this season – only Barcelona in 1999-2000 have netted more in a single campaign in the competition (45).
• Lyon’s Rayan Cherki become the youngest player to appear in the knockout stages of the Champions League, aged just 17 years and two days.