Gnabry at the double as Bayern surge into final date with PSG
IMPERIOUS Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich conquered Lyon 3-0 last night to set up a Champions League final showdown with PSG at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon on Sunday (8pm).
Bayern, still carrying the momentum from their scintillating 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona, saw off the French side thanks to a Serge Gnabry first-half double and Robert Lewandowski’s 55th goal of the season.
Lyon are still waiting on their first final appearance while Bayern have reached their 11th Champions League or European Cup decider.
Bayern have now won their last 20 games in all competitions as Rudi Garcia’s side squandered opportunities.
The German giants can now look forward to their first Champions League final in seven years.
Bayern have won all their matches in this year’s competition with an aggregate score of 42-8.
And Lewandowski has scored in nine consecutive Champions League matches.
Despite finishing seventh in the French league, Lyon had beaten Juventus and Manchester City en route to the semi-finals but they lacked a ruthless touch when it mattered last night.
SERGE Gnabry fired Bayern Munich into the Champions League final with a 3-0 win over Lyon.
The winger’s double helped book a showdown with PSG after the French champions’ 3-0 win over RB Leipzig on Tuesday.
Robert Lewandowski (right) grabbed his 55th goal of the season late on as Bayern continued their unstoppable march to the final after their 8-2 quarter-final humiliation of Barcelona.
Lyon, quarter-final conquerors of Manchester City, had plenty of chances before Bayern struck with Memphis Depay going close and Karl Toko Ekambi hitting the post.
But five-time winners Bayern will now aim to reclaim the trophy they last won in 2013 in Lisbon
on Sunday (8pm).
In an astonishingly open start, Lyon had the opportunities to put themselves in control.
Depay shot into the side netting as he tried to round Manuel Neuer before Bayern wasted their own excellent chance after 11 minutes.
Leon Goretzka swapped smart passes with Lewandowski but miscued his shot.
Lyon continued to cause Bayern problems though and Jerome Boateng made a crucial interception from Maxwel Cornet’s cross as Ekambi waited.
Ekambi then had another chance after 17 minutes only for his low effort to hit the post.
And the forward and Lyon were left to rue the missed chances when Gnabry brilliantly opened the scoring 60 seconds later.
The former Arsenal winger collected the ball on the right, cut inside and, with Lyon unable to stop him, unleashed a sensational drive into the top corner.
Bayern took control and Anthony Lopes saved Gnabry’s low drive before the winger grabbed his second after 33 minutes.
The 25-year-old started the move and fed Ivan Perisic, and Lewandowski somehow failed to convert the Croatian’s cross — but Gnabry pounced from close range for his 23rd of the season.
Lyon could not handle the ex-west Brom loanee and Lewandowski just failed to connect with his cross eight minutes before the break.
Hansi Flick’s Bayern remained in charge after the restart and Perisic should have made it 3-0 only for Lopes to save his effort.
Moussa Dembele, on for Depay, found Houssem Aouar whose low ball was begging to be converted but Neuer blocked Ekambi’s strike.
Despite the warnings, Bayern refused to panic.
Philippe Coutinho then had a goal ruled out for offside before Lewandowski wrapped up victory with two minutes left.
Net gains: Serge Gnabry wheels away in celebration after firing home his second for Bayern Munich