Bayern Munich booked their place in the most prestigious game in club football – the Champions League final – after overcoming Lyon 3-0 in France.
The four-times winners, who have not featured in the final since beating Valencia on penalties in 2001, will meet either Barcelona or Inter Milan in Madrid on May 22 after a hat-trick from Croatian striker Ivica Olic secured a 4-0 aggregate win.
Mario Gomez, who played a major role in his team’s 1-0 victory in the first leg, had to be content with a place on the bench at Stade Gerland, although the Germany international will be hoping for a slice of the action at the Bernabeu next month.
Bayern remain on course for a league and cup double and manager Louis van Gaal emphasised that it was a team game that had got them this far.
"The players now know what it's like to spend 10 months with Van Gaal, they know it's not easy but they're happy now and so am I," he said.
24-year-old Gomez will have his work cut out, though, trying to dislodge Olic from the starting line-up.
Despite missing Franck Ribery through suspension, the Bundesliga leaders seized the initiative – thanks in no small part to the expert finishing of Olic.
Just 26 minutes were on the clock when the striker’s neat turn and shot left Lyon with a mountain to climb.
The home side’s central defender Cris was sent off for two bookable offences in the second half, before Olic capitalised, converting first a pass from Hamit Altintop and then a cross from Philipp Lahm.
The 4-0 aggregate win was the most emphatic since Van Gaal's Ajax suffered a 6-2 defeat to Juventus in the 1996-97 competition.
For the latest on the Champions League, visit the tournament's official website at uefa.com
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