TheDailySoccerNews.com

Something as trivial as a deep and painful gash was never going to stop Ivica Olic on this particular evening. Blood was dripping from a wound to the back of his head, but the Croat still attacked Philipp Lahm’s 78th-minute cross and headed the ball back across Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris and into the net. Bayern went 3-0 up, all of them scored by Olic in arguably the best game of his career.

“I didn’t want to be substituted, because I had the feeling I could score another couple,” the match-winner stated afterwards, revealing what was said in a touchline exchange between him, Bayern chief medic Dr Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt and boss Louis van Gaal. Olic already had two goals to his name at that point, a 26th-minute right-footed shot on the turn after great work by Thomas Müller, and a left-footed effort on 67 minutes from a sublime Hamit Altintop pass. Bayern were as good as home and dry, but Olic wanted more.
“Scoring three in a match like that is outstanding, a dream,” the 30-year-old declared after the match, a look approaching bewilderment on his face. The former Hamburg striker is now on seven goals in the Champions League this term, a huge contribution to Munich’s thrilling progress to the final. Only eight-goal Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has scored more often.

“He’s scored three, but his discipline was also fantastic tonight. We know we can always count on him,” commented Van Gaal. All Olic’s previous goals in Europe’s elite competition have been crucial. His winner against Maccabi Haifa set up a do-or-die encounter with Juventus in the group phase. He handed his side a 2-1 lead in the Turin clash, he struck at the death to seal a 2-1 home win over Manchester United in the quarter-finals, and at Old Trafford he pulled one back before the break with Bayern trailing 3-0 and heading out of the competition. Even United stars like Edwin van der Saar admitted that was the turning point in the match.
Enviable stamina and a nose for goal

Olic arrived on a free transfer last summer, but he has become priceless in Munich, and not just due to his goals. “He’s vital to the team, because he’s a prodigious worker and refuses to accept the ball’s been lost,” Philipp Lahm marvelled. “He’s just football-crazy. He gives it absolutely everything, and he’s totally exhausted afterwards,” said Thomas Müller, Ivica’s main strike partner of late.

“Maybe it’ll be the game of my life,” the Croat said hopefully before Tuesday’s clash. Following his beautifully-taken hat-trick – Italy hitman Alessandro del Piero is the only player to have previously accomplished the feat in a Champions League semi-final – Olic was a model of joy unconfined: “That was the greatest day of my life.” With a bit of luck, the 22nd of May in Madrid might yet put that in the shade.