Bayern edge past Fiorentina

Robben: Strike sent Bayern through

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Bayern Munich progressed into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League on away goals, despite suffering a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fiorentina at a blustery Artemio Franchi.

Munich took a 2-1 advantage going into the return clash in Florence, and although they fell 3-1 behind on the night in the second half, Arjen Robben unleashed a wonder strike to make it 4-4 on aggregate, giving the Germans the away goal advantage.

Fiorentina felt aggrieved following the first leg defeat and set about avenging the score line, taking a deserved lead in the 29th minute after Juan Manuel Vargas pounced on Hans Jorg Butt's fumble to make it 1-0.

Alberto Gilardino's clever flick allowed Stevan Jovetic to double the lead after the re-start, only for Bayern to get themselves back into the tie through Mark van Bommel's expert finish from outside the area.

Viola thought they had restored their advantage when Jovetic combined with Gilardino again to make it 3-1 on 64 minutes, but straight after the re-start Robben capped an inspired performance by lashing a 30-yard screamer into the top corner to send his side through in dramatic fashion.

Early menace

Bayern boss Louis van Gaal handed 17-year-old David Alaba a first start as a makeshift left-back in place of the injured Diego Contento while Robben returned after recovering from a cold.

The home side had the advantage of a strong wind at their backs in the first half and Vargas tried to make use of it early on with an ambitious 40-yard free-kick that just flew over.

The Peruvian was an early menace and his cross soon after appeared to strike Daniel van Buyten's hand in the penalty area, although the home side did not make much of their appeal.

In the 22nd minute Bastian Schweinsteiger earned a caution that will rule him out the first leg of Bayern's quarter-final after he fended off the chasing Jovetic with a hand to the face.

Fiorentina went ahead in the 28th minute when Vargas pounced on a weak clearance from Bayern goalkeeper Butt and found the net with an expert finish under pressure from a tight angle.

Bayern then lost striker Mario Gomez to a leg injury on the half hour with Miroslav Klose his replacement.

The Germans should have gone level after 34 minutes when the ball broke for Robben who blasted a shot from 12 yards only to see Sebastian Frey make a superb reaction save.

It was a rare attack for Bayern whose forward threat was effectively snuffed out by the hosts who consistently double marked wingers Robben and Franck Ribery to cut the supply.

Fiorentina's grip on the game strengthened further when Jovetic fired home after 54 minutes, following a superb backheel from Alberto Gilardino, to send the hosts 3-2 ahead on aggregate.

Turned on its head

But the match was turned on its head in the next 11 minutes as the goals flew in.

Bayern grabbed their lifeline on the hour when Ribery outpaced three markers before sliding a pass to the top of the area where Van Bommel drilled a low shot in at the left post.

Four minutes later La Viola were ahead in the tie again when Gilardino again fed Jovetic, this time with a header, and the young Montenegrin outmuscled Van Buyten and forced home from close range.

Fiorentina's celebrations showed they thought they had done enough, but just a minute later they were staring elimination in the face when Robben cut inside before unleashing an unstoppable drive that flew in the top-left corner from 30 yards.

Fiorentina still had plenty of time to find a reply, but now deflated they never threatened to find a way back into the game and Bayern increased their unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 games.