A DOUBLE blunder by Manuel Neuer gave Frank Lampard a Champions League reason to smile.
And while Lampard did not need another of Robert Lewandowski’s lethal instincts, Chelsea at least now know that Bayern will arrive at the Bridge far from faultless.
Chelsea will take hope from Manuel Neuer’s huge mistakes against PaderbornCredit: EPA
Germany skipper Neuer had two horror show moments, with an epic walkabout fail compounded by a second error which threatened to leave the Bundesliga leadership door ajar for Leipzig.
Luckily for Neuer, Lewandowski bailed him out, twice converting from brilliant work by Serge Gnabry to take his tally to an astonishing 38 Bayern goals this campaign and ensure Bayern will arrive in London still on course for a record eighth straight German crown.
But the signs of old age in the keeper were good news for Chelsea if they can find a way to exploit Bayern’s vulnerabilities.
Neuer helped define the concept of the sweeper-keeper in his rise for club and country.
Yet the flaws of playing a high line with a final element who is perhaps more error-prone than at any time in his career was demonstrated as he twice threw away Bayern’s dominance with a pair of crazy cock-ups.
Bayern Munich were reliant on Robert Lewandowski to seal a late comeback winCredit: AFP
Bayern might have been wondering why they only had a clever strike by former Arsenal man Gnabry to show for their first half dominance.
Yet then Neuer’s hare-brained dash out into the left back area left him in no-man’s land when Paderborn striker Dennis Srbeny robbed him in possession.
Srbeny showed far more composure than the stranded Neuer as he wandered into the box before firing the Bundesliga’s bottom side and supposed whipping boys back on terms.
And just minutes after Lewandowski finally came good at the EIGHTH time of asking, slotting home from Gnabry’s sensational dart and pull back from the left, Neuer fumbled again.
This time Neuer failed to hold substitute Dennis Jastrzembski’s tame cross-shot allowing Sven Michel to tap into the empty net.
It looked as if Bayern would pay the price but two minutes from time Lewandowski popped up at the back post to slide home from six yards out.
Bayern are deadly, make no mistake.
But they are fallible too. If Chelsea have it in them to make them pay.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
