Bayern thrash Chelsea 3-0 as Serge Gnabry leaves Blues on brink of Champions League exit
SIMON COLLINGS at Stamford Bridge 
Tuesday 25 February 2020 22:53 

Robert Lewandowski assisted two and scored another as Bayern Munich beat Chelsea to put themselves within touching distance of the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

On a miserable night for Chelsea, which concluded with Marcos Alonso being sent off seven minutes from full-time, they were blown away by Bayern’s attack and lost 3-0.

The scores were level at half-time, but the German champions clicked into gear in the second-half as Gnabry bagged a brace and Lewandowski found the net.

It means Chelsea’s Champions League hopes are hanging by a thread and they must win 4-0 in Germany in next month’s second leg to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Before kick-off, the mood at Stamford Bridge was one of optimism after Saturday’s win over Tottenham and Frank Lampard duly opted to make no changes for this visit of Bayern Munich.

The Chelsea boss hoped his side would pick up where they left off against Spurs, but instead Bayern dominated the first half.

The German champions missed several chances, with Thomas Muller proving the most guilty party as he headed onto the crossbar from six yards out.

In contrast Chelsea offered little going forward, despite Marcos Alonso’s well-saved effort just before half-time, and they were happy to go in level at the break.

The game, however, did not stay level much longer as six minutes into the second half Gnabry opened the scoring.

The German fired home Robert Lewandowski’s cut-back and the striker bagged another assist moments later when he slid in Gnabry again for his and Bayern’s second in three minutes.

Bayern could sense and wanted a third, and they duly got it 14 minutes before the end as Lewandowski got in on the act.

This time it came as Alphonso Davies rampaged down the left with another lung-busting run, before cutting it back for the Poland international.

Chelsea’s miserable night was then confirmed seven minutes from the end as Alonso was sent off after VAR upgraded his yellow card to a red for catching Lewandowski with a stray arm.