FIFA Club World Cup: Bayern Munich Beat Al Ahly To Reach Finals [REPORT]

Robert Lewandowski scored twice as Bayern Munich avoided an upset to secure their place in the FIFA Club World Cup final with a 2-0 victory over African champions Al Ahly in Qatar on Monday.

Lewandowski got the scoring started against the African champions at Qatar’s Ahmed bin Ali Stadium just 17 minutes into the game following an assist by German winger Serge Gnabry.

The champions in 2013 are also only competing in the tournament for the second time in their history.

They had their preparation marred by flight delays which caused them to spend Friday night sleeping on the plane before then departing for Qatar nine hours later than intended the following morning.

All that culminated in fatigue which they showed few signs of early on before moving to assert their dominance. It paid off as Polish striker Robert Lewandowski gave the German treble winners a 1-0 lead in the 17th-minute from a close-range.

Egyptian champions Al Ahly had their best chance of the game shortly after Bayern’s opening goal when Taher Mohamed’s diving header went straight into Manuel Neuer’s hands.

Al Ahly prevented them from making another breakthrough for most of the game by being very disciplined at the back but Lewandowski and Thomas Muller came close to doing so.

The Polish marksman – voted FIFA’s best male player of 2020 – made it 29 goals in 27 club games this season with his second goal of the match 85 minutes into the game via a header.

The European champions will face Mexican side and CONCACAF Champions League victors Tigres in Thursday’s final.

Al Ahly on the other hand will go up against Copa Libertadores winners Palmeiras this Thursday in the third-place playoff.