Goals from Thomas Müller, Sebastian Rode and Mario Götze ensured the Group E winners head into the knockout phase on a high.
FC Bayern München rounded off another successful group stage campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory against PFC CSKA Moskva.
With his side already assured of top spot, Bayern boss Josep Guardiola allowed himself the luxury of rotation and brought in youngsters Gianluca Gaudino and Pierre Højbjerg for rare starts. Neither looked out of place as Bayern knitted their familiar passing patchwork, though they were almost given a rude awakening when Seydou Doumbia headed a Roman Eremenko cross narrowly wide early on.
Caught between going all out for the win they required to progress and defending for a point which could potentially earn them a spot in the UEFA Europa League, CSKA looked torn at times. Bayern struggled to take advantage, though, with Jérome Boateng’s hopeful strike from distance their most meaningful effort on goal.
That was until the 18th minute, when Franck Ribéry’s trickery got the better of Bebras Natcho, whose trailing leg caught the Frenchman’s ankle and sent him tumbling. Thomas Müller showed typical efficiency from the spot, sending Igor Akinfeev the wrong way to break the deadlock.
However, Bayern were far from watertight. A marvellous piece of skill from Doumbia left the Ivorian clean through on 23 minutes, but Manuel Neuer rushed out to deny him. At the other end, Ribéry slipped a clever ball through for Bastian Schweinsteiger, but the FIFA World Cup winner’s fierce shot was tipped over by Akinfeev and the hosts failed to seriously threaten again until well into the second half.
Arjen Robben was the chief protagonist. The Dutch international had clearly been given instructions from Guardiola to kill the game off and duly set about making a nuisance of himself. A dragged shot wide and a header on target preceded an even closer try just before the hour as he smashed goalwards from the left. Akinfeev stood firm to repel.
Ahmed Musa managed to get a rare shot away for CSKA heading into the latter stages, but the fresh legs of Robben began to run the show. Jinking his way in from the right time after time, the 30-year-old was unfortunate to see a finish of his own saved before dinking over for Lewandowski, whose header was diffused on the line by Sergey Ignashevich.
The Poland striker could barely believe minutes later when he rounded the keeper only to see his finish come back off a post with the goal at his mercy, but Sebastian Rode put matters beyond any doubt six minutes from time, as he headed in a cross from the outstanding Schweinsteiger. Götze put the icing on a cake with a tidy finish to make it three in added time.
source: uefa.com
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 