Player ratings (1-10; 10=best; players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating):
GK Manuel Neuer, 6 -- Hardly tested but easily could have been punished on one of his trademark bursts outside his box. A casual chip fell nicely to the feet of Sambou Yatabare five minutes before the break, but the Mali international failed to get enough on his lob to burst the net.
DF Juan Bernat, 6 -- The Spaniard went close to doubling his Bayern career goal tally with a left-footed shot in the opening 10 minutes. Put in a solid performance, before he was replaced by Medhi Benatia to give the fit-again Moroccan more game time.
DF David Alaba, 6 -- Even with Medhi Benatia available, Alaba was still preferred as a central defender, which gives you an indication of both players' current standing in the Bayern hierarchy. Neutrals might say the Austrian was quite lucky to get away with an own-goal in the second half, but the referee got this decision right, spotting a clear foul from Fin Bartels in the build-up.
DF Javi Martinez, 6 -- Rested at the weekend but brought back to shore up the defence. Bayern's record signing also got to swap shirts with Claudio Pizarro after the final whistle, which has to be a bonus.
DF Philipp Lahm, 7 -- Mr. Dependable had to be at his best with a last-ditch clearance to deny Bremen a chance on the counter-attack in the opening exchanges. Consistency personified.
MF Xabi Alonso, 6 -- The Basque enjoyed the physical battle in midfield as Bremen gave as good as they got.
MF Franck Ribery, 6 -- Benched at the weekend to keep him fresh, but the Frenchman gave the ball away cheaply, especially in the first half. He improved after the break but still made a few too many uncharacteristic errors.
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| Thomas Muller came to Bayern Munich's rescue, scoring a brace that sees the Bavarians reach the German Cup final. |
MF Mario Gotze, 5 -- Congratulations, Mario! A first major semifinal start for Gotze under Pep Guardiola at the seventh attempt. Unfortunately, the midfielder didn't repay his manager's faith, putting in a fruitless hour's work before he was hooked for Thiago.
MF Kingsley Coman, 6 -- Reasonably lively for an hour or so, but the talented French teenager provided very little end product and was replaced by Arturo Vidal.
FW Thomas Muller, 8 -- Match-winner Muller was afforded the freedom of Munich to open the scoring with a powerful header on the half-hour mark and doubled the lead from the spot after the referee bought Vidal's dive. That's 31 goals in 43 games this season and 151 goals in 347 career games for Bayern; not bad for someone who's anything but an out-and-out striker.
FW Robert Lewandowski, 5 -- The Polish striker was superbly marshalled by the stubborn Bremen rear-guard and could muster only two weak shots on goal and won only 23 percent of his challenges, a season low.
Substitutes:
MF Thiago, 5 -- Rested at the weekend, Thiago replaced the spent Gotze for the last half-hour, but the Spaniard was equally as ineffective as the German international.
MF Arturo Vidal, 5 -- The Chilean came on for the final 23 minutes as Bremen strived for an equaliser. Vidal dashed the Northerners' hopes with a horrendous dive to draw a penalty that Muller gratefully converted to seal the Bavarians' passage to Berlin.
DF Medhi Benatia, 5 -- The Moroccan replaced Bernat just before the hour mark and almost immediately Bayern's defence looked less secure. This is more than just a coincidence.