Robert Lewandowski scored his 52nd goal of the calendar year to put Bayern Munich ahead against PSG. - © © gettyimages / Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images
Robert Lewandowski scored his 52nd goal of the calendar year to put Bayern Munich ahead against PSG. - © © gettyimages / Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images

Bayern Munich cruise to victory over PSG but finish second in Group B

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Bayern Munich registered a classy 3-1 win over Paris-Saint Germain at the Allianz Arena, but fell short of the four-goal swing required to finish above their French counterparts at the top of UEFA Champions League Group B.

Bayern Munich 3-1 PSG

Goals: 1-0 Lewandowski (8’), 2-0 Tolisso (37’), 2-1 Mbappe (50’), 3-1 Tolisso (69’)

Visitors PSG - 3-0 winners in the reverse fixture on Matchday 2 - started on the front foot as Kylian Mbappe forced Bayern goalkeeper Sven Ulreich into a smart early save. Bayern heeded the warning, though, and were soon in front courtesy of Robert Lewandowski’s tidy close-range finish from a flicked David Alaba header. Corentin Tolisso powered in a sensational James Rodriguez cross to double the Bundesliga leaders’ tally late in the half.

Bayern needed four goals without reply to pip PSG to top spot in Group B at the start of the game, but it was back to square one shortly after the restart as Mbappe headed in from Edinson Cavani. Former Schalke and Wolfsburg midfielder Julian Draxler was next to warm the palms of Ulreich, before Tolisso crowned a superb run and cross from Kingsley Coman to restore Bayern’s two-goal advantage.

Ulreich thwarted Mbappe once again and Lewandowski chipped narrowly over at the end of a pulsating encounter, the result of which means Bayern will be among the group stage runners-up in Pot 2 when the draw for the last 16 is made in Nyon, Switzerland, on 11 December.

Match stats

    Bayern finished second in Group B, level on PSG on 15 points.The Bavarians have won their last three home games against Paris with an aggregate score of 10-12.Lewandowski has scored 52 goals in 51 appearances for club and country in 2017.Tolisso finished the group stage with three goals and one assist.Franck Ribery was named captain for the first time since April 2013.Bayern are undefeated in 12 group stage matches on home soil since losing to Man City on Matchday 6 in 2013/14.

Line-ups

Bayern: Ulreich - Kimmich, Süle, Hummels, Alaba (Rafinha 85')- Tolisso, Rudy - Coman, James (Vidal 83'), Ribery (c) (Müller 67') - Lewandowski
Subs: Starke, Martinez, Rafinha, Boateng, Vidal, Müller, Friedl
Absentees: Neuer (foot), Bernat (muscular), Thiago (thigh), Robben (thigh)
Coach: Jupp Heynckes

PSG: Areola - Dani Alves, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva (c) (Kimpembe 72'), Kurzawa - Verratti, Rabiot, Draxler (Lo Celso 90') - Mbappe, Cavani, Neymar

Subs: Trapp, Berchiche, Kimpembe, Meunier, Lo Celso, Pastore, Di Maria
Absentees: Thiago Motta (knee)
Coach: Unai Emery

As it happened