Dinamo Zagreb vs. Bayern Munich: Score and Reaction from 2015 Champions League
Bayern Munich officially eliminated Dinamo Zagreb from European tournament football this season after beating the Croatian side 2-0 at the Maksimir Stadium on Wednesday.
Goals came from Robert Lewandowski, who hit a brace, as Bayern added an exclamation point to an impressive qualification campaign that saw them comfortably top Group F ahead of Arsenal.
Munich chief Pep Guardiola made five changes to his impressive side, with qualification already in the bag. Among the changes, he included young American Julian Green, 20, in the starting XI. But it was the presence of veteran French winger Franck Ribery that really stood out, per the club's official Twitter feed:
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Meanwhile, Sky Sports confirmed how Arsenal conqueror Junior Fernandes started up front for the home side. Useful holding midfielder Jose Goncalo Santos also slotted into the middle.
Bayern were much-changed, but it was regular man Lewandowski who nearly struck first. In the end, a scuffed shot from the Poland international was easily saved.
Seconds earlier, deputy goalkeeper Sven Ulreich had rebuffed a Zagreb break. Josip Pivaric had raided forward on the counter, as the hosts made their intent clear.
Ulreich had to make a second fine stop as the first half progressed before Xabi Alonso whipped a free-kick narrowly wide for the visitors. But a tame and tepid opening 45 minutes ended goalless.
To liven things up, Guardiola introduced free-scoring forward Thomas Muller for a clearly rusty Ribery. Jerome Boateng also came on for central defender Medhi Benatia.
Just as they had before the break, Bayern serenely controlled possession in the second half. Yet, for all their comfortable passing, Munich still looked vulnerable on the break.
What Bayern needed was some inspiration from their big players. Muller and Lewandowski duly provided it. The former lifted a delightful cross for Lewandowski to deftly head home.
The Pole struck again moments later to double Munich's lead.
In the dying moments, Bayern won a penalty. The spot-kick was wasted by Muller, who denied Lewandowski his hat-trick and smashed the ball against the post.
But the game had already been well and truly wrapped up for Bayern.
Post-Match Reaction
Afterwards, Guardiola saluted the win as a worthy flourish to an excellent overall performance in Group F, per the club's official Twitter feed:
Buoyed by his side's comfortable progress, Guardiola even allowed himself a moment of dry humour when asked how he stirred his side out of its first-half slumbers:
He also praised deputy stopper Ulreich's contributions:
Bayern have sauntered through Group F in ominous fashion. The only blot on their copybook was defeat at Arsenal. But Guardiola's balanced team still looks set to be a major force in this year's tournament.
As for Zagreb, they couldn't build on stunning the Gunners on Matchday 1.
