Champions League: Bayern Munich reach knockouts with 4-2 win over Viktoria Plzen

Bayern Munich cruised past Viktoria Plzen 4-2 on Wednesday, putting them through to the knockout round of the Champions League after punishing the Czech champions during a ruthless first-half display that produced four goals. The victory combined with Barcelona's 3-3 draw with Inter Milan put Bayern through to the knockout stage while the Czechs, who are bottom of Group C, will exit at the group stage. "It's always nice to win away from home.

We've got 12 points from four games in the toughest group and we're into the round of 16," Bayern manager Julian Nagelsmann told reporters. "Now we want to top the group. This win gives us the necessary calm ahead of Freiburg on Sunday.

That was our goal and we achieved it." The Germans, who have now gone a record-extending 32 group matches in the competition without defeat, struck first after 10 minutes when Sadio Mane played a one-two with Leon Goretzka before putting the ball in the net. An unmarked Thomas Mueller -- who came off midway through the first half with a tight back as a precaution -- doubled the visitors' lead minutes later when he tapped home a cross from Kingsley Coman with only the Plzen keeper near him. "Things tightened up a little in his back, a nerve," Nagelsmann said.