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Bayern Munich's road to the Champions League final

After moving closer to their first Champions League trophy in seven years, Sports Mole takes a look at Bayern Munich's route through to the final.

Since they last won the Champions League trophy back in 2013, it is fair to say that Bayern Munich have endured a frustrating period in the competition.

However, after four semi-final defeats in six attempts, the Bundesliga outfit finally booked another appearance in the final on Wednesday evening with a 3-0 triumph over Lyon.

After success in the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in recent months, Hansi Flick now has the opportunity to guide Bayern to the treble for just the second time in their illustrious history.

Ahead of the showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, Sports Mole takes a look at how Bayern have progressed through to Sunday's final in Lisbon.


Group stages

Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry shoots at goal during the match against Tottenham Hotspur on October 1, 2019© Reuters

While 2019 finalists Tottenham Hotspur were present in their group, being joined by Olympiacos and Red Star Belgrade meant that Bayern had been provided with one of the more favourable combinations available to them.

Bayern proceeded to win all six of their matches with relatively minimal fuss, spending a combined total of just 15 minutes trailing their opponents.

Although thrashing Spurs by a 7-2 scoreline in North London was the standout result, scoring three or more goals in five of their six matches was an intimidating return ahead of the knockout stages.

Robert Lewandowski scored nine times during the opening five fixtures before being rested for the dead rubber against Spurs on matchday six.


Last 16: Chelsea (7-1 on aggregate)

Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski celebrates scoring against Chelsea in the Champions League on August 8, 2020© Reuters

Given their previous success over Spurs, Bayern would have been delighted when they were drawn against an inconsistent Chelsea side in the last 16.

Despite the Blues having their moments during the first leg, two goals in the space of three second-half minutes from Serge Gnabry effectively took the tie away from the Premier League outfit at Stamford Bridge.

Holding a 3-0 advantage heading into the reverse fixture, Bayern coasted to a 4-1 triumph, helped by two more goals being scored in the opening 24 minutes.


Quarter-finals: Barcelona 2-8 Bayern Munich

Philippe Coutinho scores for Bayern Munich against Barcelona in the Champions League on August 14, 2020© Reuters

With both clubs seemingly on contrasting trajectories ahead of their showdown earlier this month, many were tipping Bayern to comfortably overcome their Spanish opponents.

However, few predicted the manner of the drubbing handed out to the Catalan giants as four goals in the first 31 minutes ended the game as a contest.

Barcelona's second of the night only brought on more misery, with Bayern replicating their efforts from the opening 45 minutes to record one of the most famous scorelines in recent European football history.

Six different players got on the scoresheet, including Philippe Coutinho, who netted twice against his parent club in the closing stages.


Semi-finals: Lyon 0-3 Bayern

Bayern Munich's Serge Gnabry celebrates scoring against Lyon in the Champions League on August 19, 2020© Reuters

For the opening 17 minutes of Wednesday's last-four clash, Lyon showed that this Bayern side have weaknesses which can be exploited by the top teams.

However, within seconds of narrowly avoiding going behind, Bayern upped the tempo, taking the lead courtesy of a wonder goal from Gnabry.

A second from the winger before half time put Bayern on the brink, before Lewandowski's 14th European goal of the campaign sealed their progress with two minutes of the 90 remaining.

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Bayern Munich players celebrate Thomas Muller's goal against Barcelona on August 14, 2020
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2Bayern MunichBayern33233792415172
3Stuttgart33224774393570
4RB Leipzig33197775373864
5Borussia DortmundDortmund33179764432160
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14VfL BochumVfL Bochum33712144170-2933
15Mainz 05Mainz33614133650-1432
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17FC Koln33512162756-2927
RSV Darmstadt 98Darmstadt3338223082-5217


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