BERLIN: Bayern Munich beat RB Leipzig 3-0 on Saturday thanks to two goals from Robert Lewandowski to win their 19th German Cup and complete a domestic league and Cup double.

Bundesliga top scorer Lewandowski headed Bayern into the lead in the 29th minute, wrong-footing keeper Peter Gulacsi, and Kingsley Coman’s superb first touch and shot in the 78th made it 2-0. Lewandowski sealed the win with a fine run and superb chip in the 85th minute.

Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery went on late to make their last appearances for Bayern after 10 and 12 seasons respectively. Ribery became the only player to play in eight German Cup finals.

It was the 12th time Bayern won the double as coach Niko Kovac, who lifted the Cup with Eintracht Frankfurt last year and led them to the 2017 final, became the first man to win the double with Bayern both as player and coach.

Captain Manuel Neuer, who missed Bayern’s Bundes­liga triumph the week before due to a calf injury, produced two stunning saves in either half when a goal for Leipzig might have been decisive.

“It was the toughest opponent we could have had and we saw that in the opening 30 minutes,” said Kovac, whose future at the club looks more secure after winning two titles in the past week. “Manuel Neuer kept us in the game with two superb saves but overall the victory was deserved. We had tough times back in October and November so compliments to the team. To be here with two titles makes me very proud.”

Published in Dawn, May 27th, 2019