BAY CITY STROLLERS

More capital punishment as Munich hit 15 in London in three matches and Lampard faces Euro knockout

THIS was brutal humiliation on a night of torture for Frank Lampard.

Chelsea were torn apart, outclassed and left facing a return leg in three weeks with their European campaign over.

Bayern Munich were far too good as ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry scored twice and Robert Lewandowski once

Gnabry (right) has scored six Champions League goals this season and all have them have been netted in London. Indeed,

London is a happy hunting ground for Bayern. They thrashed Spurs 7-2 earlier this season and won 5-1 at Arsenal in March 2017.

This was the sort of performance which marks the Germans down as potential European champions.

Marcos Alonso was sent off after VAR upgraded his yellow to red after a stray arm caught Lewandowski while Jorginho will also miss the return after a petulant booking.

Chelsea boss Lampard has endured some wonderful highs this season but this was definitely a low as his young side were given a painful lesson.

The only comfort was that the home fans sang Lampard’s name towards the end of the game just to remind him of the glory nights they shared, even if this felt a long way from those days.

Back in 2012, Chelsea beat Bayern in Munich to win the European Cup on one of the greatest and most dramatic nights in their history – as the home supporters delighted in reminding the travelling German fans.

Eight years on, Bayern were clear favourites while Chelsea’s young line-up looked inexperienced by comparison and it was little wonder Lampard admitted his side would have to

“suffer” in their last-16 showdown. Yet much of the suffering was self-inflicted as Chelsea were clumsy in possession.

Ross Barkley and Jorginho were sloppy on the ball as the Blues struggled to contain their German visitors.

With Kingsley Coman on the right, Gnabry out left, and Thomas Muller just behind Lewandowski (right), the Bayern forward line is one to match any in Europe.

Coman hit the side-netting, Muller curled a 20-yard shot inches wide, and twice Lewandowski was denied by Blues keeper Willy Caballero.

Muller’s clever back-header also crashed against the bar as Bayern dominated the first half. Chelsea had to wait until the 43rd minute before forcing Manuel Neuer into serious action as Alonso’s low drive was beaten away by the Bayern keeper. That was as good as it got for Chelsea.

They started the second half with a needless booking for Jorginho and his yellow card for dissent means he misses the return leg. That set the tone for what was to follow.

Gnabry took centre stage again, just as he did at Tottenham in October. The first goal came after 51 minutes as Bayern swept forward. Cesar Azpilicueta slipped and left a gap for Gnabry to run forward and play in Lewandowski. Lewandowski’s perfect return set up Gnabry who fired home the opener from close range. Now Bayern fans could enjoy the taste of revenge.

The next goal came three later through the same combination. Gnabry swapped passes with Lewandowski before Gnabry slotted past Caballero into the far corner

He could have had a hat-trick but fired another chance over.

It got even worse after 76 minutes as the impressive Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies escaped down the flank and sent over a low cross for Lewandowski to slot home his 39th goal of the season for Bayern.

Chelsea’s night got worse when Alonso was sent off – this was a lesson in European class for them.