The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayern

  • Bayern beats Sevilla to reach CL semi-finals

    Bayern Munich have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League after playing out a goalless draw with Sevilla in their quarter-final second leg to progress 2-1 on aggregate.

    The hosts began brightly as James Rodriguez, Arjen Robben and Robert Lewandowski all weighing in with early efforts, the latter heading on target and forcing a save from David Soria.

    Sevilla’s opening contributions to the game were two bookings within the first 11 minutes, before Pablo Sarabia rifled an effort high over Sven Ulreich’s crossbar.

    Both sides traded blows throughout the first half, with Bayern’s Joshua Kimmich and Mats Hummels and Sevilla’s Sergio Escudero all coming especially close, but neither could open the scoring by the break.

    After the restart, Jupp Heynckes’s charges stepped up their search for a goal which would give them an extra cushion, Lewandowski rustling the side netting  with a 49th-minute header.

    Thomas Muller then forced a save from Soria on 54 minutes, while at the other end, Joaquin Correa headed against the woodwork and Ever Banega fired just wide of the post from 25 yards on the hour.

    Bayern grew more and more frustrated as the game went on, Robben spurning a number of opportunities in the second half.

    Sevilla, however, could not capitalise on their opponents’ wastefulness as the Bundesliga giants booked their place in the semi-finals of the competition.

  • Bayern hammer Besiktas, Chelsea hold Barcelona

    Bayern hammer Besiktas, Chelsea hold Barcelona

    Bayern Munich did not spare their visitors Besiktas from Turkey in the first leg of the UEFA Champions Round of 16 at the Allianz Arena, as they banged five goals behind them.

    In London, Chelsea and Barcelona ended up 1-1, with Lionel Messi seizing on a defensive error to put the Catalans at an advantage in the second leg at Camp Nou.

    Four of Bayern’s  goals were scored in the second half, with Thomas Mueller and Robert Lewandowski recording a brace each.

    Mueller had opened scoring in the 43 minute, 27 minutes after Besiktas defender  Domagoj Vida had been red-carded after tripping Bayern’s striker  Lewandowski.

    Vida was sent off for the foul because he was the last man to contain the Bayern offensive.

    Eight minutes after play resumed in the second half, Kingsley Corman scored for Bayern, making the scoreline 2-0.  Mueller struck again in the 66th minute for his brace of the day and Bayern’s third. Then Lewandowski slammed two goals in the 79th and 88th minute.

    The hosts dominated the match, with 66 per cent possession and 12 shots on target. Besiktas, playing with 10 men for 74 minutes,  only managed one shot on target. And it was in vain.

    At London’s Stamford Bridge,  Lionel Messi struck for the first time in nine games against Chelsea.

    Willian’s fine strike just after the hour mark had put Chelsea in command after earlier hitting both posts in the first half.

    However, one moment of carelessness cost Chelsea dear as Andres Iniesta intercepted Andreas Christensen’s pass to tee up Messi to swing the balance of the tie in Barca’s favour 15 minutes from time.

    The English champions must now score when they travel to the Camp Nou on March 14 to have any chance of making the last eight.

    Chelsea manager Antonio Conte sprang a surprise before kick-off by leaving out both Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata with Eden Hazard instead operating in the middle of a front three featuring Willian and former Barca winger Pedro Rodriguez.

    And it was Hazard who sent the first warning that Barca were in for an uncomfortable evening when he fired just over from 20 yards five minutes in.

    Antonio Rudiger also headed just wide in a positive opening from the hosts, but it was Barca who had the first clear chance on 16 minutes.

    Chelsea constantly tried to surround Messi with three or four blue shirts to limit the Argentine’s threat, but he dug out a cross to the far post where an unmarked Paulinho headed wide.

    Barca then went on to dominate possession for a large spell of the first half with their control of the ball reaching 80 percent at one stage.

    However, the visitors lacked penetration before the break and were lucky to go in level at half-time.

  • ‘Khedira would be perfect for Bayern’

    ‘Khedira would be perfect for Bayern’

    bayern Munich honorary president Franz Beckenbauer believes Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira would be a perfect signing for the Bundesliga champions.

    Khedira has recently been linked with a return to Germany, while Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the midfielder’s situation as his future at Madrid remains uncertain.

    Beckenbauer believes the midfielder would be a great addition to the Bayern squad and would be a suitable partner for Bastian Schweinsteiger or Philipp Lahm.

    “Khedira would fit in in any team. He would fit in very well at Bayern, too,” Beckenbauer was quoted as saying by Sport Bild.

  • Lewandowski hoping to reach next level at Bayern

    Robert Lewandowski is hoping his switch to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich can help take his game to the next level.

    Lewandowski was officially confirmed as a Bayern player in July after signing a pre-contract agreement with the Bavarian club in January.

    The move ended the Poland international’s prolific four-year spell with Borussia Dortmund, who Bayern will face in the DFL Supercup in 10 days’ time.

    The 25-year-old netted 103 goals in his time at Signal Iduna Park, but feels he can make further strides with Pep Guardiola’s men.

    “I know I can get even better. It doesn’t matter where you’ve played and what you’ve won, you always have to give it everything you’ve got,” Lewandowski said.

    “[I am] not yet at the limit. I hope I can get better every day.”

    Bayern’s stars from Germany’s successful World Cup campaign will return to the squad for their last friendly clash with an MLS All-Star team at Providence Park in Portland on Wednesday, just a week before the Supercup clash with Dortmund.

    The Supercup is to be held at Signal Iduna Park, and, while Lewandowski is relishing the occasion, he expects his first competitive match as a Bayern player to be a challenging one.

    “It’s obviously going to be special for me,” he added. “I had four fantastic years there [Dortmund], but it’ll feel very different as a member of the visiting team.

    “[It will be] a difficult evening, simply because we’ll only have trained together for a week. But we’re a good team and we’ll obviously play to win.”

  • Bayern Munich humiliate Barcelona to reach Wembley final

    Bayern Munich humiliate Barcelona to reach Wembley final

    Rampant Bayern Munich roared into the UEFA Champions League final as Barcelona were humiliated 3-0 at Camp Nou and 7-0 on aggregate in their semi-final showdown.

    Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and a comical Gerard Pique own goal completed a miserable night for the Catalan giants, who left Lionel Messi on the bench and never threatened to rewrite history as they were second best again to the outstanding Bundesliga champions.

    Bayern’s comprehensive triumph means that it will be an all-German final at Wembley on May 25, with Borussia Dortmund having seen off the challenge of Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

    Tito Vilanova’s men, who clearly felt Messi was not fit enough after his recent hamstring injury, were nearly caught out in the 12th minute when Bastian Schwinsteiger’s ball over the top sent Robben racing clear, only for Pique to slide in with a perfectly-timed challenge.

    And the centre-back was called into action once again soon after as Robben and Schweinsteiger combined to set up captain Philipp Lahm, with another sliding tackle taking ball and man as the full-back prepared to shoot.

    Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was called into action in the 24th minute as he had to be alert to tip over his crossbar after Pedro’s lightning turn and shot from long range.

    Xavi had a glorious chance to reduce the significant deficit as Cesc Fabregas diverted Daniel Alves’ curling cross back to his team-mate just outside the six-yard box, but the Spain international could only hook his volley over the top.

    Bayern were following the mantra that attack is the best form of defence, with another Robben burst creating a three-on-three attack but his decision to shoot with team-mates well placed allowed Alex Song to block.

    The tie was effectively settled early in the second period as Robben was found in space on the right flank and he was allowed to cut inside by Adriano onto his favoured left foot before curling a delightful finish beyond Victor Valdes’ despairing dive.

    David Villa attempted an immediate response for Barca, who now faced impossible mission of scoring six, but his shot was off target, before Franck Ribery played in Robben only for his attempted shot to drift wide with Mario Mandzukic unmarked to his right.

    Pique inadvertently added to Barcelona’s humiliation as he could only connect with Ribery’s dangerous with his knee to divert it beyond Valdes and into the back of the net.

    And their misery was completed soon after as Ribery burst away from Song to lift a teasing cross to the far post where Thomas Muller arrived to head home 14 minutes from time.

  • CL: Brilliant Bayern demolish Barca

    CL: Brilliant Bayern demolish Barca

    Bayern Munich took a massive step towards the Champions League final with an incredible 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona in the first leg of their last four clashes at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.

    Thomas Muller opened the scoring with a close-range header, and put the second on a plate for Mario Gomez minutes into the second half.

    Muller would controversially play a role in Arjen Robben’s goal after apparently fouling Jordi Alba off the ball, before tapping in the fourth himself with eight minutes remaining to round off the biggest ever margin of victory in a Champions League semi-final.

    Bayern could have been ahead as early as the fourth minute. Robben exchanged passes with Gomez, and it took the outstretched legs of Victor Valdes to deny the Dutch winger from point blank range.

    Barca was winning the possession battle, but it was the Bavarian side who controlled the opening exchanges. Javi Martinez’ tumble in the box was correctly ignored by the referee, who was forced into a bigger no-call when Philipp Lahm’s shot struck Pique’s elbow.

    The Barca defender headed wide at the other end from a corner, but it was an isolated scare from the blunted Catalans, and with 25 minutes on the clock, Bayern made their superiority count.

    A corner was worked to Robben, whose cross was flicked on by Dante, and Muller was first to the ball, sneaking a header past Valdes at the post.

    Gomez then picked up the first yellow card of the game for barging into Messi, and he was quickly followed into the book by Bartra and Martinez for challenges on Muller and Andres Iniesta either side of the interval.

    Just like the first goal, Robben’s delivery was met by a Bayern head, with Muller guiding the ball towards the goal line, where Gomez was waiting to gleefully bundle the ball home.

    The Bundesliga side was simply dominating, and the match threatened to get ugly very fast for Barca had Muller and Franck Ribery been more accurate when presented with the chance to pick their spot from great shooting positions.

    But the third goal was always on the cards, and it duly arrived with 17 minutes remaining, albeit in contentious circumstances. Muller’s off the ball block on Alba went unheeded, and with the full-back out of the way, Robben curled sublimely into the far corner.

    And in the 82nd minute, it was 4-0. David Alaba’s overlapping run down the left ended with a low cross into the six-yard area, where Muller was waiting to turn into the back of the net to leave the second leg at Camp Nou as little more than a formality, and finish off an epic 24 hours for Bayern.

  • Gomez: Bayern must win the Bundesliga

    Mario Gomez has stressed that winning the Bundesliga title is an absolute must for Bayern Munich this term following their lack of success in the previous two campaigns.

    The Bavarians have not won a major trophy since winning the domestic double in 2010, and Gomez has insisted that they have to keep up their current form in order to win silverware again this season.

    “The important thing is that we continue our run through to Christmas and don’t let up,” Gomez told reporters in the wake of Bayern’s 5-0 win over Hannover.

    “We’ve won nothing for two seasons, so we have to win the league. We’re on track, provided we keep it up.

    “We were on track last year as well, only to veer off course. That mustn’t happen this season.”

    Bayern currently sit atop of the Bundesliga table and hold a nine-point lead over second-placed Borussia Dortmund.