Cool Olic eases Bayern into final

BAYERN MUNICH cruised into their first Champions League final for nine years in France last night, courtesy of Ivica Olic’s hat-trick – and team-mate Arjen Robben immediately declared he wants Inter Milan and old boss Jose Mourinho in the final.

“I want to play Inter, definitely.” said Robben afterwards. “It’s better for us as a team. We can have difficulties against Barca. But it’s also because I want to play against Mourinho and (Wesley) Sneijder.”

Robben admitted Lyon had caused his side little difficulties.

“It was comfortable, it also felt so on the pitch,” said the Dutchman.

“We were much the better team. We played a great game.

“We didn’t sit back and wait for them to come. We played aggressively, with attacking football and didn’t let them come into the game.

“We played well. I’m very proud. Very proud of the team and happy to reach the final. It’s a great season.”

Last night, without the suspended Franck Ribery, the Bavarians showed little in the way of reckless attacking abandon but then little of that was required as Ivica Olic’s 26th minute goal doubled their first leg lead, left the home side requiring three goals, and silenced the Stade Gerland.

Hamit Altintop’s quick throw-in was collected by Thomas Muller who exchanged passes with Arjen Robben before working his way into the area, past some half-hearted challenges, and squaring for Olic who was able to turn and score from eight yards.

It seemed unlikely that Lyon would ever eat into their two-goal deficit and a difficult task was rendered nigh impossible just before the hour when the French team’s impressive centre-half was the victim of a ludicrous dismissal by Swiss referee Massimo Busacca.

Having been harshly cautioned for a perfectly fair challenge on Olic, Cris was shown a second yellow for his sarcastic applause at the decision.

Ironically, down to 10 men, the French finally forced Hans-Jorg Butt into a save in the Bayern goal as he parried a fierce shot from Sidney Govou but, after 66 minutes, any lingering uncertainty was removed when Olic scored his second goal of the evening.

Counter-attacking, the depleted hosts, Altintop timed his defence-splitting reverse pass to perfection, playing in Olic who ran off his marker to expertly convert his sixth goal in nine Champions League games.

Olic’s hat-trick arrived in the 78th minute from a superb piece of approach play, and perfect cross, from right-back Philipp Lahm, heading in from eight yards for a text-book hat-trick with goals with his right-foot, left-foot and head.

Even ignoring the ludicrous dismissal, the Germans were full value for their comfortable margin of victory. Unconvincing in group play, and needing away goals to see them past Fiorentina and Manchester in the knock-out stages, Bayern have grown as the tournament has progressed. “Typical Germans,” Alex Ferguson may have sneered after the last round in an attempt to insult Bayern but it might as well have been a compliment given the manner in which the club has grown in stature along the way, in much the same way as their national team so often peaks late in tournaments.

Now can they peak once more for the final?

Subs for Lyon: Gomis for Cissokho 46, Pjanic for Delgado 69, Ederson for Lisandro 79.

Subs for Bayern Munich: Demichelis for van Buyten 46, Klose for Robben 76, Alaba for Schweinsteiger 78.