Too painful for Frank as Blues crash
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EIGHT years on from Chelsea’s greatest European night, there was never going to be a repeat in the Allianz Arena.
Instead, it was a painful reminder of the gap between Frank Lampard’s current generation and Europe’s elite as Chelsea crashed out of the Champions League after another thumping defeat to the German champions.
Lampard (below) captained the Chelsea team which beat Bayern Munich in their own backyard to win the Champions League in 2012 after a thrilling penalty shoot-out.
But there were no such heroics this time as Bayern completed the demolition job on Chelsea which they started at Stamford Bridge six months ago.
Robert Lewandowski was the architect of the victory as he scored twice, provided two assists and tormented a defence which has struggled in the Premier League let alone on the European stage.
Lewandowski, 31, has scored 47 goals for Bayern this season, he must be the best No9 left in the competition and, in Thiago Alcantara, they also have a world class midfielder pulling all of the strings.
It was too much for Chelsea in what became a steep teep learning curve for Lampard ampard and his players who have ve defied the odds this season n to get back into the top p four but have a lot of catching up to do.
There has been much to like and admire about
Chelsea this season but they are still very much a work in progress even if their task on the night was hardly y made any easier with th
Cesar Azpilicueta and nd
Christian Pulisic both out injured and Jorginho and Marcos Alonso suspended.
Only four times has a deficit of three or more goals been overturned, but no team has done so after losing the first leg at home and few stadiums are as unforgiving as the Allianz Arena.
And it was never likely to happen as Chelsea – becoming the first team to field three Englishmen aged 21 or younger in a Champions League knockout match – just did not have the experience or proven quality to match a European super power.
Chelsea did show some heart by refusing to buckle after going 2-0 down after just 24 minutes but ultimately the scoreline became embarrassing and to concede seven goals over two legs is a brutal and painful reality check.
Bayern effectively killed the tie after just nine minutes. Serge Gnabry played in Lewandowski who was upended by Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero. An offside flag looked to have stopped a clear penalty but VAR stepped in, the penalty was given and Lewandowski converted it.
Chelsea’s defence was all over the place, Lewandowski was given time and space to turn provider for Ivan Perisic to slot in the second from close range.
Callum Hudson-odoi saw a goal ruled out for offside by VAR but finally Tammy Abraham pulled one back a minute before half-time after Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer spilled Emerson’s low cross.
Chelsea ba battled in the second ha half but, as they ran out of le legs, Bayern took charg charge.
Le Lewandowski’s cro cross set up Corentin To Tolisso to volley h home a third. L Lewandowski then h had the final say with a thumping header after 83 minutes to show tha that he and this
Bay Bayern team will take some stopping in Lisbon Lisbon.