Berlin (AFP)
Grand favorite of the German Cup final, Bayern Munich strolled against Leverkusen (4-2) Saturday in Berlin, sealing their double Cup-Championship; enough to now turn to the Champions League in August, dreaming of repeating the resounding treble of 2013.
An absolutely unstoppable free kick by David Alaba at the entrance to the penalty area after the first quarter of an hour, then a perfect cross strike from Serge Gnabry ten minutes later: in the space of a half hour, the players of Hansi Flick killed all suspense in this final to secure the 20th Cup in their history, after the 30th title of champion conquered in mid-June.
And it was when Leverkusen was slightly better in the match, shortly before the hour of play (big opportunity for Kevin Volland, entered at the return of the locker room), that Robert Lewandowski, on a dry punch, worsened the score. The Pole took advantage of a huge error from goalkeeper Hradecky to score his 50th goal of the season, in all competitions.
But as in the semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt (2-1 victory), the Munich side saw their opponents be much more enterprising than in the first period.
The players of Peter Bosz first reduced the score by Sven Bender, then passed close to relaunching completely in the final, but Volland and Kai Havertz, the new nugget of German football, were too short to take over the center of Moussa Diaby.
Insufficient to shake the Munich residents who completed their success with a double from Lewandowski in the 89th minute, his 51st goal this season, the best total in Europe.
- 25th victory in 26 matches -
In Berlin on Saturday, it is difficult to remember the victory of Leverkusen (2-1) obtained in Munich at the end of November 2019. An eternity in football. Since then, there has been the dismissal of Niko Kovac, his replacement by Flick and the resurrection of the great Bayern.
And then chain victories: Manuel Neuer's teammates have not lost since December 7, winning 25 of their last 26 official matches (a friendly loss in January). The interruption of two months of soccer in Germany due to a health crisis linked to the Covid-19 has in no way stopped the mechanics.
Now, Munich can have the lead in the Champions League, postponed in August because of the Covid-19. A first stage awaits them at the beginning of August with the 8th final return against Chelsea, the Bavarians having flown over the first leg match 3-0 on London soil at the beginning of March.
Given its momentum, Munich is the favorite to win the queen competition in European football. With a big question, however: how will the team manage the five weeks without an official match until the return match against Chelsea, while England, Spain and Italy will still be on the pace with championships ending in the coming weeks.
In 2013, Bayern had in its ranks the duo "Robbery" -Arjen Robben and Frank Ribéry- to take everything in its path. In its current form, Lewandowski asks only one thing: to succeed them in the Munich legend.
© 2020 AFP