![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/2.54921783.jpg\")
Robert Lewandowski struck his 52nd and 53rd goals of a stunning season and laid on two more as Bayern Munich saw off Chelsea 4-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.<\/p>\nRobert Lewandowski struck his 52nd and 53rd goals of a stunning season and laid on two more as Bayern Munich saw off Chelsea 4-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Bayern flexed their muscles as one of the tournament favorites once again, securing a 7-1 aggregate victory over Chelsea in the last-16 tie.<\/p>\n
Peerless Poland striker Lewandowski converted a penalty and thumped home a header, while also teeing up Ivan Perisic and Corentin Tolisso as the Bavarians cruised past the Blues at the Allianz Arena.<\/p>\n
Tammy Abraham tapped in his 18th goal of the season amid a promising showing from Callum Hudson-Odoi, with the teenage England winger laying on an assist and seeing a fine 20-yard strike ruled out for offside.<\/p>\n
Lewandowski took his Champions League career goals tally to 66, leapfrogging Real Madrid\u2019s Karim Benzema into fourth place in the competition\u2019s all-time scoring charts.<\/p>\n
Some 165 days since Bayern thumped Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on February 25, Hansi Flick\u2019s men finally completed the job to reach the last eight.<\/p>\n
Bayern have long since wrapped up the Bundesliga and German cup double and will be right in the running to complete a superb treble.<\/p>\n
Frank Lampard\u2019s first campaign at the Chelsea helm has finally come to an end, fizzling out in frustrating fashion in Germany.<\/p>\n
The injury-hit Blues were missing seven frontline players through knocks and suspensions and could not bridge the clear gulf in class to the menacing Munich men.<\/p>\n
Despite this hefty loss though, Lampard and Chelsea will still point towards a promising future.<\/p>\n
Champions League qualification was secured by the Blues\u2019 fourth-place Premier League finish, and Lampard is already midway through rebuilding the Stamford Bridge squad.<\/p>\n
Chelsea endured a nightmare start when Lewandowski stroked home a perfect spot-kick to put Bayern ahead on eight minutes.<\/p>\n
The Blues initially thought the offside flag would come to their rescue, only for VAR to overturn that decision.<\/p>\n
Once the Bayern attack was deemed legitimate, Willy Caballero\u2019s upending of Lewandowski was always going to be a penalty \u2013 and a yellow card for Chelsea\u2019s veteran stopper.<\/p>\n
Lewandowski\u2019s all-court attacking threat was in evidence just minutes later when the Poland striker teed up Perisic, with the Croatia midfielder tapping home.<\/p>\n
With Chelsea 2-0 down on the night and five down on aggregate, the Blues were staring down the barrel of a humiliating evening in Munich.<\/p>\n
Hudson-Odoi had other ideas however, with the winger desperate to make an impact against the club that courted him so heavily only a year ago.<\/p>\n
Cutting in off the left and linking up with Abraham, Hudson-Odoi whipped a fine 20-yard effort past a full-stretch Manuel Neuer. Chelsea\u2019s joy was short-lived however, as VAR chalked off the strike for offside.<\/p>\n
The England international refused to relent though, and forced a Blues breakthrough just before the break when he powered to the byline and drilled in a low cross that Neuer could only parry back into the danger area. The lurking Abraham tapped home as Chelsea salvaged some consolation from a chastening half.<\/p>\n
Mason Mount was unable to cap a smart break with a finish to open the second half, before Chelsea were forced onto the back foot by Bayern\u2019s possession play.<\/p>\n
Thomas Muller wound up furious with himself for not slotting home Alphonso Davies\u2019 fine cross, with the Germany star fluffing a potential tap-in.<\/p>\n
Muller booted the base of the post in frustration, before letting out a furious roar that echoed around the empty Allianz Arena.<\/p>\n
Lewandowski flashed a volley across goal as Bayern continued to press, while Thiago failed to convert a free header from Joshua Kimmich\u2019s corner.<\/p>\n
Tolisso side-footed home Lewandowski\u2019s inch-perfect cross to put Bayern 3-1 up and in total control.<\/p>\n
And Lewandowski grabbed the last word for himself, powering home a header to improve yet again an already stellar personal campaign.<\/p>\n