Arjen Robben’s 69th minute blast took a slight deflection of Mueller’s head going past and outstretched Hugo Lloris for the game’s only goal. Can this man stop scoring game changing goals? No. He cannot help himself.
However Ribery, the other half of the Robbery duo was not there at hand because a stupidly dangerous tackle with his studs on Lisandro Lopez’s ankle earned him the red card from Roberto Rosetti. The Italian referee was booed at half time for his decision. But the replays show it was the correct one. Till then the Bayern attack looked slick and sure with some good looks at goal but lost steam after the winger was sent off.
But Bayern once again picked up after the break when Jeremy Toulalan was also sent off after an arguably 50-50 challenge on Schweinsteiger earned him a second booking.
Lyon reduced to 10 men struggled to ward of Schweinsteiger, Mueller, and Lahm allowed to roam the flanks stretching out the Lyon defense with Robben free to foray in that central vacuum.
It was a subdued Lyon display and the normally fiery Lisandro Lopez had an off night. Hans Joerg Butt had little to do except on a few instances.
Robben might be the man of the match but it was Philip Lahm who was the best player on display with his jinking runs, accurate passes, and impeccable tracking. One of the highlights was a marvelous Lahm sortie down the right, the wingback cutting the Lyon defense to ribbons before centering to Tomas Mueller who in a perfect imitation of Nicklas Bendtner, muffed his shot as the ball got caught between his feet.
Bayern will be without Danijel Pranjic who received a second consecutive booking. Ribery will also not be making the trip. Lyon will be minus Toulalan. Can Lyon come from behind to beat Bayern? They will have to show more attacking adventure and stop Bayern’s possession game.