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On this, the 28th Matchday of the 50th season of the Fußball Bundesliga, with a 1-0 victory over Die Adler of Frankfurt, did FC Bayern München win the championship. In the process they set a new record for the earliest match date on which the Bundesliga has ever been won.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister!
This game began as any other championship winning game begins. A tense battle of wits and wills, flushed with fervor and urgency as 11 men smelled silver polish and the coming trophy. Okay, that is hyperbolic but a genuine sense of excitement was there. A 10' rifled shot from the top of the box by Xherdan Shaqiri, gave near immediate certainty that this game and the title would be ours. However, as it slammed off the right post and away from the Oka Nikolov's goal, we bemoaned our enemy, the post.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister!
However, things got real halfway through the first half as Thomas Müller was fouled in the box by Eintracht's Marco Russ and a penalty was awarded by referee Florian Meyer. Up stepped young 20 year old David Alaba who at the referee's whistle slammed a shot off the same right post. At this point, we cried, screamed, and promised eternal retribution on that post! How dare it wrong us!
In all seriousness, Alaba's penalty was well taken, and it was unfortunate that it did not slot home and give Bayern the 1-0 lead.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister!
In the first half, Bayern dominated the game as the attacking midfield band of Shaqiri, Müller, and Robben proved fluid and interchangeable for 45 minutes, popping up everywhere which contributed to the lack of sustained possession by Bayern. The attacking midfield band was clearly new at this type of movement, and it was even clearer that Mario Gomez was unsure of how to react. Time after time, passes were played in space as players moved the opposite way, giving possession back to Frankfurt. I hope this type of play is worked on because it was very exciting to see.
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister!
In the 52' minute, Bayern's fortunes came to fruition as a Phillip Lahm cross drove through the box and was met by a late midfield run from Bastian Schweinsteiger, whose backheel flick, reminiscent of Radah Madjer from 1987 and of Claudio Pizarro last weekend, was buried near post, putting FC Bayern up 1-0. It was the captain to the vice-captain to seal the title. It is only fitting that history was made this way.
via i.minus.com
FC Bayern, Deutscher Meister!
With the Schweinsteiger goal, Jupp Heynckes withdrew both Arjen Robben and Thomas Müller from the game, and replaced them with Luis Gustavo and Frank Ribery. This exchange pushed Schweinsteiger to the CAM slot and Shaqiri to the right side of midfield. The goal also instantly awakened Eintracht Frankfurt, who for the last 40 minutes had better sustained possession and chances than they did for the first 50. Luis Gustavo was booked in the 65' for bad foul. A 74' substitution of Claudio Pizarro for the somewhat lost Mario Gomez was gave Bayern a more fluid dynamic.
However, this was not enough to dominate the resurgent Frankfurt, who after the 77' substitution of Srjdan Lakic for Karim Matmour became a dangerous beast. A massive sustained attack was launched on the Bayern goal and if we are being honest, should have left this game level at 1-1. A 78' minute world class save from Manuel Neuer kept Frankfurt off the scoreboard and an 80' Dante handball in the box went uncalled by Florian Meyer, leaving Frankfurt players and fans alike screaming.Multiple corners besieged the goal for the next several minutes as the Frankfurt onslaught continued. A bad foul by Javi Martinez in the 85' left him partnering Luis Gustavo in Florian Meyer's little book. Finally able to relieve pressure around the 88', Bayern maintained enough possession and poise to see out the match, and see the way to their 23rd Bundesliga title.
Let the Stern des Südens ring throughout the world as FC Bayern München are the champions of Germany.