Bayern Munich outclass Olympiakos to advance in Champions League

Updated: May 17, 2023, 06:09 am

Bayern Munich booked their place in the Champions League group stage with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Olympiakos.

With Arsenal running out 3-0 winners over Dinamo Zagreb in the other game in Group F, Olympiakos will have to wait until next month's clash with the Gunners for their chance to join Bayern in the last 16.

Bayern were 3-0 up after 20 minutes thanks to efforts from Douglas Costa, Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller, and Kingsley Coman completed the rout in the second half after Holger Badstuber had seen red for a foul on Brown Ideye.

The hosts broke the deadlock after just eight minutes when Douglas Costa rifled in from the left side of the box after Olympiakos goalkeeper Roberto Jimenez had parried a superb long-range effort from Bayern defender Jerome Boateng into the Brazilian's path.

Bayern doubled their advantage in the 16th minute when Lewandowski slotted in his fifth Champions League goal of the season from just inside the area.

Robert Lewandowski helped Bayern Munich to a comprehensive win over Olympiakos.

And the hosts made it 3-0 four minutes later when Arjen Robben unselfishly headed the ball across the face of goal for the unmarked Muller to tap in from close range.

Lewandowski could have extended Bayern's lead in the 25th minute but fired narrowly wide from the middle of the box under pressure.

The visitors could have pulled one back two minutes before the break when they were awarded a free-kick just outside the area but they were unable to find the target.

Bayern were reduced to 10 men eight minutes into the second half when Badstuber was given his marching orders for fouling the on-rushing Ideye on the edge of the area when the former West Brom man was through on goal.

Esteban Cambiasso rolled the resultant free-kick into the path of Arthur Masuaku, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Despite Olympiakos' numerical advantage, Bayern continued to dominate and Douglas Costa sent his 58th-minute free-kick into the side netting.

And Bayern added a fourth in the 70th minute when Coman latched onto Muller's header before bravely nodding in from close range, taking a knock from shot-stopper Jimenez in the process.