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Posts Tagged ‘Bayern Muenchen’

Daniel van Buyten was well enough to use the fitness machines at the Säbener Strasse on Sunday, but the Belgian is still rated doubtful for Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final return away to Olympique Lyon. Worryingly for Bayern, the same applies to fellow centre-back Martin Demichelis. The pair were both substituted after sustaining injuries in Saturday’s Bundesliga meeting with Monchengladbach.

Van Buyten suffered a painful blow to the shin and calf early in the second half, while Demichelis sprained a calf muscle before half-time. Both will travel with the FCB party to Lyon on Monday, but a decision over their fitness to play will be left until the day of the match. “I hope at least one of the centre-halves recovers fitness,” Louis van Gaal said after the Gladbach match, “then we’ll have Badstuber, the centre-half, and Contento on the left. I’d be happy with that.” Read the rest of this entry »

After all the pre-match bluster from Olympique Lyonnais general manager Claude Puel, who said that reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League shouldn’t be considered an achievement in itself, les Gones contrived to produce one of their most tepid performances in Europe for many a season against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

FCB’s domination was almost total from start to finish, even for the relatively brief period either side of half-time that they were reduced to ten men when Franck Ribery’s troubles mounted for a needless foul on Lisandro Lopez. Kim Kallstrom at least managed to stretch Hans-Joerg Butt during that spell, but this would be virtually the only time during the course of the match the veteran goalkeeper would be severely worked.

When Italian referee Roberto Rosetti blew his whistle to kick the game off, it was clear Lyon were content to sit deep and allow Bayern to dictate the game. For ten minutes the Germans retained possession rather aimlessly, but gradually they became increasingly active in an offensive capacity, with Arjen Robben, of course, dictating play.

Lyon’s makeshift defence quickly began to creek. Twenty-three-year-old goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who has been so highly praised throughout this campaign was the first on the field to show signs of nerves when he misjudged two consecutive corner kicks. He was not, however, aided by an outfield unit boasting too many fresh faces at such a lofty level. Read the rest of this entry »

Bayern go into next Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final second leg trip to Lyon with a slender one-goal lead after yet another sublime Arjen Robben effort, although Munich might yet rue not scoring a second on a night when Louis van Gaal’s men dominated their Ligue 1 opponents throughout. Both sides had a man sent off in an increasingly enthralling contest, which leaves the Bundesliga leaders with the slight advantage ahead of the return.

The 66,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Bayern create much the better of the first-half chances, but Bastian Schweinsteiger and Ivica Olic failed to hit the target. The balance of the game changed controversially with Franck Ribery’s harsh dismissal seven minutes from the break, but parity was restored with Jeremy Toulalan’s sending off for two bookable offences in three minutes shortly after the restart.

It was one-way traffic for a spell after that and chances went begging for the home side, before Robben handed the Bavarians an overdue lead with a trademark 25-yard piledriver. The sides settled for the result, leaving the tie nicely-poised before the return in the Rhone valley next week.

Van Gaal made just one enforced change to the side which thrashed Hanover 7-0 at the weekend, Danijel Pranjic deputising for suspended captain Mark van Bommel alongside Schweinsteiger in the holding midfield area.

Diego Contento continued at left-back in place of Holger Badstuber, with Thomas Müller in the hole behind Olic up front, and Robben and Ribery on the flanks. There was firepower on the Bayern bench too, with Germany international duo Mario Gomez and Miro Klose.

For the visitors, coach Claude Puel made three changes to the side which beat Bordeaux in the quarter-finals. Top scorer Lisandro Lopez shook off an ankle injury and started in place of Bafetimbi Gomis, with Ederson and Miralem Pjanic replacing Michel Bastos and the injured Jean-Alain Bomsong. No fewer than seven of Puel’s men started the game just one booking short of missing the second leg. Read the rest of this entry »

Two more games, and Bayern could be contesting the Champions League final in Madrid. Buoyed by Saturday’s goalfest against Hannover, and “full of adrenalin,” according to Philipp Lahm, FCB now take on Olympique Lyon in the semi-finals. “It’s the best thing that could have happened. We were already confident, but winning 7-0 just increases it,” said Louis Van Gaal. “Hannover play the same system as Lyon, so it was good practice.”

A real sense of anticipation has gripped Munich. A 66,000 full house will pack the Allianz Arena, but the club fielded 300,000 requests for tickets. The city and the fans are keenly awaiting Italian referee Roberto Rosetti’s whistle to get the game underway. “We’re looking forward to the match and the atmosphere at the Allianz Arena, which has been sensational recently,” said Lahm, “I can hardly wait for it to start.”
Chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge reckons FCB have a “50-50” chance of making the final. A win at home would arguably increase that chance, although Van Gaal insisted a goalless draw would also be a good result. “0-0 or 1-0 is better than 2-1. It sounds strange, but it’s how I see it, because we’ve always scored away from home,” the coach stated. Whatever else happens, the 58-year-old would rather his side kept a clean sheet.

Van Gaal feels Bayern’s best attacking chance is down the flanks. “It’s the biggest problem for our opponents. We don’t just have Robben, we also have Ribéry,” said the head coach, who was absent from Tuesday’s final pre-match training session due to a family bereavement. Assistant coach Andries Jonker texted the boss at the end of the session with the news that all the players are fit, including Ribéry, who sat out training for two days with a strain. “He completed the session,” Jonker reported. Read the rest of this entry »

Willy Sagnol is a Champions League winner, a member of the Bayern team which lifted the prestige trophy in Milan back in 2001. He might even have been facing Olympique Lyon for the right to contest this term’s final, had he not had to end his illustrious career prematurely with injury a year ago. fcbayern.de accompanied the in-demand Frenchman to a news conference in Munich, and then spoke exclusively to the
33-year-old about the midweek clash.

Willy Sagnol on…

…the going-in position:
“It’s 50:50. Neither probably wanted Barca or Inter at this stage and both will be totally fired up: it’s not every season you get this close to the Champions League final. I know from my own experience that it’s never easy against Lyon, but I think Bayern definitely have the better team.” Read the rest of this entry »

This was a night that said little about the German game and much more about the English.

For the first time in seven years, the Barclays Premier League does not have a team in the last four of the Champions League. That is not a coincidence.

As is often the case at this level, Ferguson’s Manchester United were tumbled out of Europe on the back of crucial decisions and fine margins. This tie could have gone either way. It is usually like this in the latter stages. Barcelona 4 Arsenal 1 was an exception. Nevertheless, United are out. Arsenal are out. Chelsea disappeared in the last round. As for Liverpool, they will be chasing their tails in the Europa League at Anfield tonight.

It may be a blip. Nevertheless, it is a hiccup that has come about on the back of declining standards. Before the game Bayern coach Louis van Gaal suggested that the level of football in the Premier League is rather modest outside the top four. He was right and he could well have taken his argument further. Read the rest of this entry »

Ivica Olic hit an injury-time winner to give Bayern Munich the advantage after the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final with Manchester United.

United took lead after only 66 seconds when Wayne Rooney volleyed in six yards out from Nani’s free-kick.

But Franck Ribery’s deflected free-kick set up a dramatic finale, rounded off by Olic’s cool run and finish after a defensive error by Patrice Evra.

United’s misery was made complete when Rooney limped off with an ankle injury.

The England striker appeared in severe pain after turning over on his ankle in the build-up to Bayern’s winner.

United will hope the injury is not too serious, as they face a crucial Premier League match against on Chelsea on Saturday as well as the return match with Bayern next week. Read the rest of this entry »

In the build-up to Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final first leg meeting with Manchester United, Arjen Robben remains a doubt for the Bayern starting line-up, but Mario Gomez has returned to contention after an injury lay-off.

Germany international Gomez has recovered from rupturing a calf muscle three weeks ago and took part in the squad training programme again on Sunday. He is likely to begin on the bench at the Allianz Arena, but may even be an option for the starting eleven. “I’m ready,” said Gomez, after staying out for extra shooting practice at the end of Sunday’s training session. The 24-year-old last played for Munich in the Champions League fixture away to Fiorentina on 9 March.

Gomez’ return offers Bayern boss Louis van Gaal another alternative for the forward line. Robben may still be forced out of Tuesday’s clash with injury, but his chances of appearing have not worsened since Saturday evening. “He’s feeling a lot better than yesterday,” reported club captain Mark van Bommel after speaking to his fellow-countryman. Read the rest of this entry »

Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben should be fit to start in Florence despite neither starting the weekend draw with Cologne.

But Argentine defender Martin Demichelis is out after suffering three fractures in his face in Argentina’s 1-0 friendly win over Germany.

Fiorentina must do without striker Adrian Mutu and defender Massimo Gobbi as both players are suspended.

La Viola have slumped to 11th in Serie A with just one win in their last nine.

Cesare Prandelli’s side have gone 17 games without keeping a clean sheet amid speculation the players have been distracted by reports their manager will replace Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup.

Bayern Munich go into the game in good form, they are top of the Bundesliga and are unbeaten in 18 matches. Read the rest of this entry »