Bayern set for seventh heaven

BAYERN MUNICH

BAYERN MUNICH all but booked a seventh consecutive last-eight appearance with a rout of 10-man Besiktas.

Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski both scored twice as the Turkish champions were overwhelmed on their debut in the knockout stages.

Bayern, the five-time European Cup winners, came into the match 19 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and undefeated at home in all competitions this season.

And a difficult task for Besiktas was made even harder when their defender Domagoj Vida was sent off after 15 minutes for attempting to make up for an error from Atiba Hutchinson by bringing down Lewandowski with the striker through on goal.

Bayern spent the rest of the half banging on the door and – after a particularly impressive save from goalkeeper Fabri to keep out a Mats Hummels header – found a way through in the 43rd minute.

Kingsley Coman, chosen to start ahead of Franck Ribery by coach Jupp Heynckes, twisted and turned to find space on the left before cutting the ball back into the box, where David Alaba, somewhat fortuitously, teed it up for Muller to poke home from close range on the turn.

Bayern were quickly on the front foot again after the restart and were two up within seven minutes, Coman arriving late into the box to connect with a Lewandowski pass.

Muller then volleyed a Joshua Kimmich cross past Fabri at the near post for his brace.

Lewandowski wrapped it up with two goals in 10 minutes, the first from a rebound after Fabri could only parry Hummels’ long-range drive and the second teed up by Muller to leave the second leg in Istanbul on March 14 a mere procession.