Eindhoven: Robert Lewandowski netted twice on Tuesday as Bayern Munich came from behind to win 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven and seal their place in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side are guaranteed a place in the top two in Group D with two matches still to play after a night on which Poland hot-shot Lewandowski could have scored five goals, having also hit the woodwork on three occasions.
“Overall we played well going forward, but took a little bit too long to move the ball in the first half,” said Bayern’s Germany forward Thomas Mueller.
“We should probably have won by more so we can’t be 100 percent satisfied.”
Dutch champions PSV’s slim chances of qualifying are over with Phillip Cocu’s side third in the section and eight points adrift of Bayern.
Bayern’s home clash on December 6 against Atletico — who are also through after beating Rostov 2-1 — is likely to decide who wins the group.
“It was a painstaking start to the game, but we came back step by step and deserved the win,” said Ancelotti.
“It was important that we did not lose our self-confidence after it went 1-1.
“We still have two games to reach first place.
“This is important, but qualifying was more important.”
Having lost 4-1 away in Munich a fortnight ago, PSV took a shock lead when Santiago Arias headed the hosts ahead inside the opening quarter of an hour in controversial fashion.
Thomas Mueller had a chance in the first two minutes and Lewandowski hit the crossbar with a header with barely four minutes gone at the Philips Stadion before the home side took a shock lead.
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer reacted quickly to parry Davy Proepper’s header, but Colombia defender Arias was on hand to head home the rebound from close range on 14 minutes as the visitors’ appeals for offside were waved away.
Lewandowski headed Arjen Robben’s cross onto the post on the half-hour amid protests that his marker Hector Moreno was holding him back.
Bayern’s luck finally turned four minutes later, however, when a Philipp Lahm cross clipped the hand of Andres Guardado.
Italian referee Gianluca Rocchi pointed to the spot and Lewandowski converted the penalty past PSV goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, who was making his Champions League debut.
It was 1-1 at the break and Bayern were all business at the start of the second half as left-back David Alaba cut back inside to force an early save from Pasveer.
With 25 minutes left, Ancelotti injected some pace by bringing on wingers Douglas Costa and Kingsley Coman for Robben and Joshua Kimmich.
“I tried to change the system to play with two wingers and open the space,” explained Ancelotti.
The switch paid off.
It was Costa’s excellent pass between two defenders which freed Alaba to put in the cross for Lewandowski to tap home the winning goal on 74 minutes.
It was his 19th goal in 17 games for club and country and his fourth in as many Champions League games this season.
He hit the woodwork for a third time on 85 minutes with a half volley.
