Defending champions Bayern Munich booked their berth in the UEFA Champions League last 16 after beating Salzburg 3-1 in Group A on Wednesday.

Salzburg started positively with a well-positioned defense, giving Bayern a hard time to establish its style of play on home soil.

Still, Bayern was able to produce the first chance of match as Serge Gnabry shot just wide with nine minutes gone.

However, the best chance fell to Salzburg's Dominik Szoboszlai, who pulled over from close range with just Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to beat at the half-hour mark.

Salzburg's chance was a wake-up call for the hosts, who clinically opened the scoring just before the break when Thomas Muller's rebound allowed Robert Lewandowski to score his 71st Champions League goal.

The Bavarians made a fairy-tale start to the second half as Maximilian Wober deflected Kingsley Coman's shot to give custodian Cican Stankovic no chance in the 52nd minute.

Hansi Flick's men controlled proceedings on the pitch even though youngster Marc Roca received his marching orders in the 66th minute after his second yellow card of the night.

The visitors failed to take advantage of their superior numbers and Bayern extended their lead with 10 men as Coman's pinpoint cross to the far post found Leroy Sane, who made no mistake to head home from very close range in the 68th minute.

Salzburg scored a consolation in the 73rd minute when Mergim Berisha had space to beat Neuer following a fast break.

The visitors from Austria piled on the pressure but Bayern stood firm and protected the 3-1 lead to the final whistle.

"We didn't play well in the first half. Things changed with the second half. Despite the sending off we played well. I am very satisfied with our efficiency," Flick said.

With the fourth win in as many games, Bayern Munich lead Group A with 12 points followed by Atletico Madrid (5 points), Lokomotiv Moscow (3 points) and Salzburg (1 point). 

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