FC Bayern’s DFB Pokal quarter-final kicks off in less than an hour. Hertha Berlin and Monchengladbach are currently level at 0 apiece, while SPVGG Greuther Fürth holds an improbable 1-0 lead over 10-man Hoffenheim. In our match, line-ups have been announced, and Basler’s advice has been taken.
For Bayern:
Gomez
Ribery - Kroos - Müller
Schweinsteiger - Gustavo
Lahm - Badstuber - Boateng - Rafinha
Neuer
For VfB:
Cacau - Ibisevic
Gentner - Kvist - Schieber- Okazaki
Molinaro - Niedermeier - Tasci - Boulahrouz
Ulreich
So - Robben starts on the bench, Hans-Jörg Butt is back on the bench as back-up ‘keeper, and VfB has left Martin Harnnik out of the starting line-up. Interesting … didn’t read anything about him being hurt, but maybe I missed it. Or maybe they just want a late bit of energy in the second half.
Let me see if I can do a chat box. Write me at bayern.offside@yahoo.com if this doesn’t show up:
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2-0 is your final. Like it or not, the Ribery-Kroos-Mueller line behind Gomez seems to work. There were some period of stagnation for Bayern, especially in the first half, but we looked pretty solid overall. The passing was good and precise, and Alaba came in and did a good job on short notice.
I haven't seen any official word on Bastian. It appeared to be a sprain, which hurts like hell, but probably wouldn't cause him to miss more than a game or two. He could at least walk, so hopefully it was more of a precautionary thing (although he definitely looked like he was in pain).
Some goal videos - Ribery in the first half. Note Alaba cycle through the front of the attack zone and then away, drawing the defense with him and allowing Franck to slip in behind:
Gomez - a real pin-ball special:
Just for the hell of it, Roman Hubik's red card in the Hertha Berlin - Monchengladbach match:
Nice acting job by Igor there. If Hubnik has ALSO gone to the ground holding his forehead, maybe he could have drawn a double-red.
Final 4 in the Pokal are Bayern, BMG, BVB, and SPVGG Fürth. So it looks like one clash of heavyweights in a semi, and another as a David vs. Goliath match (although, in a one-off tournament, anything can happen). Back with more later this week. Thanks for reading.