Bayern Bounce Back From Behind

If fans were expecting to see a closed game of cautious football, Bayern and Man Utd gave them a complete contradiction with a display of some exhilarating attacking football. iSporter Pulasta Dhar saw how the Germans emerged victorious in a well deserved display…

olic

It was a depleted Bayern Munich which took on English champions Manchester United in the Champions League Quarter Final first leg at the 66,000 seater Allianz Arena in Munich. The Bavarians lacked figures like Bastian Schweinsteiger and their current top performer Arjen Robben through injury but replacement Hamit Altintop was the man who impressed most.

Munich could not have wished for a worst start as Martin Demechellis headed in a looping ball into his own box from Nani’s corner which acted as an assist to the waiting Rooney, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net in the 2^nd minute. At 1-0 up so early, I expected United to continue their runs into the box and look for more goals to pull the game out of reach from Munich and end the tie in the first leg itself.

Bayern Munich reacted in a supreme fashion by controlling the whole flow of the game, rarely allowing United to attack. Their only other threat was when Fletcher’s superb cross found its way into Rooney’s path but this time luck was not shining on the Englishman. On the other side, Munich were continuously barraging the ball into United’s box as Ribery found his momentum after 20 quite minutes and Altintop did exceptionally well to beat Evra every time the ball was played on the right wing. His link up play with Phillip Lahm was great to see and the Bayern team were playing very high up the pitch.

Their tactics were perfect as Demechellis darted into his attacking half from his centre back position which allowed Van Bommel the freedom to attack. This was mostly possible because United were playing a 4-5-1 with none of the 3 central midfielders venturing out to attack and thus giving a lot of space to the defenders of Bayern to surge forward. Some lovely play from all the midfielders opened up the United defense like a hot knife going through butter.

vandersar

Another important part of Bayern’s attacks were how they interchanged their positions and Ribery and Lahm often found themselves in the middle of the park and shooting at Van Der Sar. I have to say the Dutch keeper was fundamental to United as he stopped a series of hits from going into the back of the net. United were in shambles, closed down continuously and it worsened after half time as Bayern won a freekick from a silly Gary Neville handball. It needed a deflection since it was an indirect freekick and Ribery’s shot ironically found Rooney’s deflection and made its way for 1-1.

Olic almost looked like Tevez charging into every defender who had the ball and he was then partnered by Gomes and Klose as Muller and Altintop made way for the changes. United introduced Berbatov, Giggs and Valencia for the ineffective Park, Carrick and Nani. Bayern’s consistent hunger for a winner finally paid off as Evra went to control the ball in a dangerous position in the box and was robbed by Olic who feigned first and then shot into the corner of the net for the winner which sent the amazing volume of the Allianz even higher.

The tie is poised superbly as United need just a goal to go through into the next round and for all those who thought they had been given an easy draw were proved wrong by a resilient and penetrating Bayern Munich who are going to be stronger and injury free when the teams meet on the 7^th of April at Old Trafford.