Bayern Munich beat Juventus 2-0 in Turin to win 4-0 on aggregate and progress to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.
Bayern, who wrapped up the Bundesliga crown at the weekend, might have been expecting a tough night in Italy but second-half goals from Mario Mandzukic and Claudio Pizarro sealed the tie.
Mandzukic, who was unlucky to be booked early on and will now miss the first leg of the semi-final, had the first opportunity for the German side when he almost turned in a Franck Ribery cross.
At the other end, Juventus pushed for the first-half breakthrough they surely needed but Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saved well from a fiercely struck Andrea Pirlo free-kick.
Paul Pogba then played a dangerous ball across the face of the Bayern goalmouth but there was nobody on the end of it, while Arjen Robben blazed over wildly when well place for the visitors.
After the break, Juve showed some intent when Fabio Quagliarella cut in from the left and fired right-footed just wide of Neuer's near post.
But it was Bayern posing the greater threat with Gianluigi Robben hitting the post with Buffon beaten before Mandzukic delivered the killer blow on the hour mark.
Bastian Schweinsteiger whipped in a free-kick from the right and while Buffon was able to parry Javi Martinez's close-range effort away, Mandzukic was there to slot the ball home.
The German champions could have doubled their advantage on the night when Robben set up Thomas Muller but the 23-year-old curled a great chance over the bar.
Substitute Pizarro did add a second goal when the veteran pulled away from his marker in the right channel and slid the ball past Buffon with ease.
By that point, any hope of a Bianconeri comeback had long since been extinguished and Jupp Heynckes' side saw out the game to join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund in the last four.
No comments:
Post a Comment