Bayern Munich into German Cup final after defeating Frankfurt 2-1

Players of Bayern Munich celebrate their team's second goal during the DFB Cup semifinal match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Munich, Germany, June 10, 2020. /VCG

Robert Lewandowski netted a second-half winner as holders Bayern Munich remained on course for a domestic double after beating Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 on Wednesday to reach the German Cup final for the third straight year.

Despite a superb first half in which they took the lead through Ivan Perisic, Bayern were made to sweat after completely losing their rhythm after the break and allowing their opponents to come back into the match with a goal from Danny Da Costa.

"In the first half we should have scored more goals. In the second half we did not do it well," Bayern coach Hansi Flick said.

"But it was a Cup game and at the end it was a deserved qualification. It could have been an easier second half if we had done it better in the first."

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich (L) in action during the DFB Cup semifinal match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Munich, Germany, June 10, 2020. /VCG

Bayern will now play Bayer Leverkusen, who cruised past fourth tier Saarbruecken 3-0 on Tuesday, in the final in Berlin on Jul4.

Having all but secured the Bundesliga title and chasing a 20th German Cup crown, the Bavarians were unstoppable in the first half and an unmarked Perisic headed in a Thomas Mueller cross for the lead in the 14th minute.

They should have scored several more with Perisic, Kingsley Coman and Lewandowski repeatedly going close as the visitors were completely outclassed in the first half.

Frankfurt, who beat Bayern in the 2018 final, came out transformed after the break and snatched an equaliser through substitute Da Costa in the 69th.

Yet Lewandowski scored the winner five minutes later with Bayern's only real chance in the second half after confusion in the Frankfurt box and following a VAR review.

Lionel Messi of Barcelona (in green) trains with his teammates ahead of their La Liga return against Mallorca in Sant Joan Despi, Spain, June 8, 2020. /VCG

Elsewhere, Spain's top flight La Liga is set to return today since halted by the global pandemic in March this year, as Sevilla face Real Betis in the Seville derby, with a full round of games to be played this weekend including Barcelona vs. Mallorca and Deportivo Alaves vs. Esponyal where Chinese striker Wu Lei may make his appearance after being fully recovered from the coronavirus.

The English Premier League has confirmed one new coronavirus case out of 1,213 players and club staff from its latest round of testing, the most extensive of the seven rounds to date.

(With input from agencies)