Bayern down Barcelona to secure group victory
Serge Gnabry set up three goals as Bayern beat Barcelona 3-0 to secure first place in the Champions League's Group C.
The win saw the German champions, who were already through to the knockout stages, secure the top spot in Group C before next week's sixth and last group stage game against second-placed Inter.
Sadio Mané opened the scoring in the 10th minute as he ran in behind Hector Bellerin to latch on to a through pass from Serge Gnabry before chipping the ball over the onrushing Marc-André ter Stegen.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had scored four goals in his last three games before tonight's game, and he got on the scoresheet again just past the half hour mark. Gnabry was the provider once more, advancing towards the Barcelona defence before releasing Choupo-Moting to his right. The veteran forward then took the ball with him inside the penalty area and fired low into the far corner of the net.
One of the most dramatic moments of the evening came a few minutes before half-time, when Barcelona were awarded a penalty for a foul by Matthijs de Ligt on Robert Lewandowski. However, after a VAR review, referee Anthony Taylor overturned his decision.
Bayern thought they had killed the game off around 10 minutes into the second half when Serge Gnabry found the back of the net, but their celebrations were cut short as the goal was ruled out for offside.
Barcelona were more on the ball, but couldn't open up the Bayern defence. Instead, the German champions added a third in injury time as Serge Gnabry picked up his third assist of the evening, this time setting up second-half substitute Benjamin Pavard.
