A rather easy outing for FC Bayern today, as Die Roten scored twice in the early going and never looked back. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, with aggressive play from both wings and the middies and defenders (especially Lahm) helping to create chances by getting forward. The only dark spot was 2 possible knocks picked up by Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben, but both looked to at least be walking by the end of the match.
Plating at home against lower-order opponents, Bayern usually pours it on early, and today was no exception. Mario Gomez had an early goal that took a bit of skill - a leaning/diving header of a ball that barely got past the outstretched arms of the 'keeper. He had to stay with the outswinging ball and time his header perfectly. And our play form both wings was excellent - not only Ribery and Robben, but also both fullbacks getting into the forward areas and overlapping.
With the big lead, we got a chance to make some fun-time substitutions, including getting Bastian Schweinsteiger on the pitch for the last ~20 minutes. He didn't find the net, but I thought he looked good: moving side-to-side very smoothly, no slowness from the ankle, and he had one nice play where we squirmed by a defender and then squared to Kroos to create a chance.
As Akash and other pointed out in the chat-box, Lahm's presence at RB (rather than LB) seemed to energize Robben up front. The Lahm + Robben combination on the right side has paid dividends in the past, and it will be interesting to see what Heynckes ares to do once Rafinha is healthy. If we trust Alaba on the left side, Alaba-Badstuber-Boateng-Lahm might be better than Lahm-Badstuber-Boateng-Rafinha.
Anyway, a fun win and this should give us some confidence going into Tuesday. Hopefully the footage will give Basel something to worry about.
Some clips - Gomez on the first header:
Very good timing, and a nice play by Ribery to squeeze it in there.
Kroos - he's always had a nice shot from distance, I think the 'keeper got a hand on it, but not enough to keep it out.
Robben - good dribbling skills here, although the defending does leave something to be desired:
Ribery - I actually think this was Robben's best play. Using his speed to get upfield, drawing defenders, and then accurately slipping it to Ribery on the right-side swing-out.
Back with more later - I need to find the rest of the goal clips and also go through my email box and load some things. Nice win for the boys today. If they can play like this, a lot of problems will disappear. Let's pull for Augsburg in the evening game.
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UPDATED - Alright, here you go - all goals:
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Sid | March 10th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Any News on Robben and Boateng?? Killer game by the way . Hoffenhiem were seriously ” Robbed ” .Meullar played well but unlucky not to score. I agree with people who say lahm looked more at home at RB than LB. Alaba did well infact.
Hope Boateng and Robben simply have bruises .
glebe | March 10th, 2012 at 11:40 am e
Gomez is a UCL level striker. Hen is like top three goal scorners. Don’t think he can catch Messiah after a five goal game though. Gomez needed a hat trick handmaid Kroos’ goal was awesome! I fell asleep second half but I’ll watch it after finals week
phil | March 10th, 2012 at 11:58 am e
Still scoreless in Augsburg – if the Auggies can hold on for 25 minutes, Bayern is alive in the Bundesliga title hunt.
smartguy | March 10th, 2012 at 12:17 pm e
88 mins still 0.0 @ augsburg Come on Ausgburg u can do it
smartguy | March 10th, 2012 at 12:19 pm e
90 over +3 mins injury time 0.0 still
Ollikahn | March 10th, 2012 at 12:21 pm e
yay..now only 5 points separate us!
smartguy | March 10th, 2012 at 12:21 pm e
game over 0.0. two points caught up on dortmund , great news
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Ronsik | March 10th, 2012 at 2:26 pm
I predicted these things (1)BvB droping minimum 5 points in the coming 5 games,4 to go and 2 points dropped (2) BMG and BvB running out of luck and showing that favre just had a luck year. Finally great game but why get knocks at our peakest time,i like the team,alaba,kroos,gustavo,mueller,ribery,robben,gomes,lahm,boateng,badstuber,neuer in the same team is great,hope schweini will be the only substitute against basel in the starting team but better let him play 2nd half
BrklynBayern | March 10th, 2012 at 3:32 pm
How important is scoring the early goal? The same players, the same tactics, the same coach… difference was that everybody played well individually and as a team.
I don’t think Robben and Ribery have linked up that well, especially on the break, since Robben’s debut game.
Alaba looked as good as anybody on the pitch, and Kroos finally steps up and takes a pop.
Some will say TSG was weak, and they’re partially right. They were missing some important players, and they have a new coach. The GK was especially average, how nice it is when the GK doesn’t have the game of his season against us like usual. We had a little luck back in the squad as well. But, it was the running off the ball, and finishing our chances that was key. Out of the normal 4-5 chances created in the first 30 min., we put away 3.
Quazzi, the tempo was much better, right?
Schweini didn’t look too bad, a little slow, but the players were making good runs for him when he had the ball, and he kept things moving well. Amazing, the guy shows up on the bench and everybody puts in a motivated, cooperative effort. A very good warm up for Basel.
And, thank you FCA, the BL is just so tough this year.
glebe | March 10th, 2012 at 4:12 pm
I was happy to see robben celebrating with the team when he scored. He even looked apologetic to Mueller for not hitting him on the pass after his second goal. If there is one thing I hate it is a bad teammate.
If you check out espn gamecast youll notice that Mueller and Robbens “average” position was right on top of one another. It was like we had two RWs in there one cut mid with dangerous left foot and a right footed crosser to go to the touch line. With lahm at RB (and scweini at LM when back up to speed) we have a dangerous, well balanced wing play attack. (Sweini can asst the less experianced Alaba in def and att).
my opinion, keep rafinia out and use same back four scheme we have right now. Alaba is just a more intelligent player and having his left foot at LB opens up more options. I don’t know what to do when DvB comes back though.
BrklynBayern | March 10th, 2012 at 4:37 pm
I’d like to add that another key was some of the players, playing a little more like men, as well. Gomez has been getting marked aggressively since the break, today he finally took his knocks and fought back. Same for Robben, when he took the hit right in front of the bench, but kept going to set up Ribery on the break… that kind of toughness has been missing from some as well. Glad to see it back. Even Ribery was shrugging off guys without turning around to punch them… everyone just wanted to get on with the game.
scalia | March 10th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
I’ve said this, and i’ll say this again : BVB and BMG will get their share of 0-0 game! If we could beat them at westfallen stadium, it’ll be a 2 points diff, and BVB will feel the tense when they sense our breath on their necks.
come on lads, just play the best! Basel first! mia san mia
Kate | March 10th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
After this game and BVB drawing, I feel as though there is a bit of hope for the title. I was really doubting before this match. I hope this match will be a launch pad into good form for the rest of the season!
ChrisP | March 10th, 2012 at 8:46 pm
Of all the positives that took place today, I would like to add that Kroos looks so much better at CM than he does in the hole. Everyone had there best game all year today and only one major lineup change. Lahm switches to RB, Alaba slides back and Kroos steps back. Not that monumental of a change, but it completely changed the way the team plays. I have been a Rafinha supporter through his good and bad games, but that seems to be the only change that really affected the play of the team.
I am a huge fan of the Lahm/Robben combo from now on. If Raf can’t play at LB and match up with Ribery then I say we stick it out with Alaba. He may not be a good defender, but he can’t be any worse than Raf. And he and Ribery seem to play well together, at least from the little we have seen. I don’t know what kind of selection issues we will come across when DvB returns, but I highly doubt that at his age he will return in starting form. By the time he is ready to be worked in it will be crunch time and we will probably have to go undefeated to win everything. So it might not be worth him getting burned, flash backs to the CL final, and well most of his career except for this season.
I thought that Schweini looked sluggish, but I didn’t expect him to be the best player out there after nearly 4 months on the sideline. However, his presence could be felt and it definitely energized the team and the stadium. If he can be used as a sub against Basel even if he can’t play simply his presence on the bench and the possibility of it could hopefully strike fear into their team. With the Dortmund draw it makes things interesting for the rest of the year. Can’t wait until Tuesday.