BERLIN (Reuters) – Bundesliga champs Bayern Munich kept their hopes of a treble alive after a dominant 4-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen to raise the German Cup for a record-extending 20 th time at the Olympiastadion on Saturday.
Soccer Football – DFB Cup – Final – Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern Munich – Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany – July 4, 2020 Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring their 4th goal, following the resumption of play behind closed doors after the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/Pool
Bayern sealed their 13 th domestic double as Hansi Flick, who took control of as interim boss when they sacked Niko Kovac in November, repaid the Bavarian club’s faith in him by winning his first last as irreversible manager.
Flick likewise became the very first German to win the nation’s league and cup function as a gamer and supervisor.
David Alaba offered Bayern the lead with a free kick in the 16 th minute after Robert Lewandowski was fouled at the edge of the box, with the protector’s effort sailing over the wall and beating the outstretched arm of Lukas Hradecky in objective.
Bayern doubled the lead when Joshua Kimmich launched Serge Gnabry down the right channel and the winger’s uncontested shot nestled into the bottom corner for the 24- year-old’s 20 th goal of the season in all competitors.
Lewandowski then pounced on Manuel Neuer’s long ball and let fly a thunderous strike from range at Hradecky and the Finnish goalkeeper fumbled, enabling the ball to creep over the line to offer the Polish striker his 50 th objective of the season.
Leverkusen opened their account when Sven Bender headed house at the far post from a corner kick however it was too little, too late as Lewandowski grabbed a 2nd with a chip over the keeper in the 89 th minute from Ivan Perisic’s lowering.
There was late drama when VAR found a handball in package in blockage time to award Leverkusen a charge. Kai Havertz’s alleviation strike into the leading corner proved to be the last kick of the video game as Bayern safeguarded their title.
Bayern have actually now won 17 games in a row in all competitions and are likewise unbeaten in their last 26 games extending back to December. They lead Chelsea 3-0 on aggregate in the Champions League last-16, with the 2nd leg to be played next month.
Leverkusen, who missed out on Champions League certification after finishing fifth in the Bundesliga, can still get approved for Europe’s elite competition if they win the Europa League where they lead Rangers 3-1 on aggregate in the last-16
Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Modifying by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar