Bavarian Football Works - Bayern Munich travel to Mainz in final match of the HinrundeManufacturing goals in the German tradition, for domestic consumption and for export.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47275/bavarian-fave.png2014-12-24T03:09:31+01:00http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/rss/stream/71819362014-12-24T03:09:31+01:002014-12-24T03:09:31+01:00Bastian Schweinsteiger named to Matchday 17 Team of the Week<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="https://twitter.com/Bundesliga_EN/status/547572500197281792">Bastian Schweinsteiger named to Matchday 17 Team of the&nbsp;Week</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>That spectacular <a href="http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/22/7432935/video-bastian-schweinsteiger-free-kick-goal-mainz">free kick</a> certainly had something to do with it.</p></p></div>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/24/7444723/bastian-schweinsteiger-named-to-matchday-17-team-of-the-weekPhillip Quinn2014-12-22T19:00:02+01:002014-12-22T19:00:02+01:00VIDEO: Schweinsteiger's brilliant free kick
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<figcaption>Shaun Botterill/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Minutes after Mainz took the lead against Bayern Munich on Friday, Bastian Schweinsteiger stepped up to take a free kick.</p>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/22/7432935/video-bastian-schweinsteiger-free-kick-goal-mainzPhillip Quinn2014-12-22T06:43:58+01:002014-12-22T06:43:58+01:00VIDEO: Manuel Neuer makes a top five save of the week<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DCM-336bG98" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Manuel Neuer made a nice save to prevent Yunus Malli from scoring for Mainz.</p></p></div>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/22/7432985/video-manuel-neuer-makes-a-top-five-save-of-the-weekPhillip Quinn2014-12-21T15:00:03+01:002014-12-21T15:00:03+01:00Bayern vs. Mainz: Community Ratings
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Bastian Schweinsteiger earned his second Community Man of the Match honor this season. The rest of the squad fared relatively poorly in their ratings in a late and nervy 2-1 win over FSV Mainz</p> <p>What happens when a fußballgott curls a free kicks over the wall and it bangs off the post and into the net just mere minutes after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/">Bayern Munich</a> concedes the opening goal?</p>
<p>Why he gets rewarded with community man of the match honors!</p>
<p><span>Bastian Schweinsteiger's</span> 23rd minute goal, along with his stellar play were justly rewarded by the voters as they unquestionably selected him their man of the match with an aggregate rating of 4.61. This was Bastian Schweinsteiger's second man of the match in the three matches since he returned to starting duty.</p>
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<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="276">
<colgroup>
<col width="137"> <col width="75"> <col width="64"> </colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20" width="137">Player</td>
<td width="75">Rating.</td>
<td width="64">Std Dev.</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Bastian Scweinsteiger</td>
<td align="right">4.61</td>
<td align="right">0.55</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Arjen Robben</td>
<td align="right">4.34</td>
<td align="right">0.63</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"><span>Juan Bernat</span></td>
<td align="right">4</td>
<td align="right">0.87</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Franck Ribery</td>
<td align="right">3.66</td>
<td align="right">0.91</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Thomas Müller</td>
<td align="right">3.47</td>
<td align="right">0.8</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg</td>
<td align="right">3.42</td>
<td align="right">0.98</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"><span>Manuel Neuer</span></td>
<td align="right">3.39</td>
<td align="right">0.68</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Jerome Boateng</td>
<td align="right">3.26</td>
<td align="right">0.69</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Rafinha</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0.66</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Dante</td>
<td align="right">2.79</td>
<td align="right">0.74</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"><span>Claudio Pizarro</span></td>
<td align="right">2.79</td>
<td align="right">0.64</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20">Mario Götze</td>
<td align="right">2.78</td>
<td align="right">0.63</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20">
<td height="20"><span>Mitchell Weiser</span></td>
<td colspan="2">Incomplete</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<p><span>Arjen Robben's</span> game winner at the death of normal time say him receive a just ratings spike, however it was nowhere near enough to unseat Schweinsteiger. The only other standout for Bayern Munich was leftback Juan Bernat who once again was a terror from the left side of midfield, working in tandem with Franck Ribery as the duo attempted to open holes in a very organized <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/bundesliga/teams/mainz-05">Mainz</a> defense.</p>
<p>For the first time in what feels to be many moons, Manuel Neuer received a grade close to average, logging a 3.39 in aggregate. Getting nutmegged is an embarrassing way to concede a goal and while Neuer subsequently played to his normal stellar levels, that moment undoubtedly stood out in the minds of voters.</p>
<p>This was also the first game since the loss of Manchester City where quite a few Bayern Munich players logged ratings below the 3, or average threshold. While Rafinha came in at exactly 3, his fellow defensive counterpart Dante was criticized as they were soundly beaten by the Mainz counterattack enroute to the opening goal. Mario Götze and Claudio Pizarro were almost voted below average as both players struggled for the entirety of the match to link up play and generate offensive impetus from the striker position. Neither had a good game as Mainz solidly controlled the space around their centerbacks and defensive mmidfielders Mitchell Weiser played one minute in stoppage time and received the first incomplete grade of the season.</p>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/21/7429527/bayern-munich-vs-fsv-mainz-05-community-ratingsRyan Cowper2014-12-20T17:04:25+01:002014-12-20T17:04:25+01:00Bastian Schweinsteiger left his mark at Mainz's Coface Arena<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="http://instagram.com/p/w0wONfEqFL">Bastian Schweinsteiger left his mark at Mainz's Coface&nbsp;Arena</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>After scoring a <a href="http://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/19/7423425/watch-bastian-schweinsteiger-equalizes-for-bayern-munich-with-a">spectacular free kick</a>, Bastian Schweinsteiger literally left his mark on the field at the Coface Arena.</p></p></div>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/20/7426943/bastian-schweinsteiger-left-his-mark-at-mainzs-coface-arenaPhillip Quinn2014-12-20T00:30:02+01:002014-12-20T00:30:02+01:00Bayern vs. Mainz : Player Ratings
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It was a rough go of it for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/">Bayern Munich</a> after allowing an early goal to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/bundesliga/teams/mainz-05">Mainz</a> before sealing victory at the death of normal time. Closing out the Hinründe with a Bundesliga record number of points is never easy, and Mainz made sure Bayern Munich earned that honor. Here are today's honorees and Meister of the Match</p>
<p><b>Tip O' The Cap: </b>Arjen Robben - The Dutch half of "Robbery" held down the right side well making several key passes and winning a few aerial battles. His goal, even though it may have been a sitter, demonstrated his positional awareness and the chemistry he has with Thomas Müller.</p>
<p><b>Golf Clap: </b>Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg - The Dane played the kind of game that you may not notice as a spectator, but was very quietly effective. Logging a full 90 minutes, which is an accomplishment in and of itself, he also led the team with 121 touches and a whopping 91% passing accuracy. Hopefully this will assuage his fears of getting playing time in the future. Pep seems to have a lot of confidence in the kid.</p>
<p><b>Standing Ovation: </b>Franck Ribery - The French international paired well with Robben for the majority of the match. Franck registered 4 shots in the game but one play really stood out. With time winding down, Ribery made a key interception near midfield to start the counter attack. When a Mainz defender came at him from behind with some clear contact, Ribery kept his feet and fed the ball wide to <span>Juan Bernat</span> who crossed the ball for <span>Arjen Robben's</span> game winning goal. Robben may have scored, but it was RIbery who started the whole sequence.</p>
<p><b>Meister Of The Match: </b><span>Bastian Schweinsteiger</span> - His brilliant goal in the 24th minute aside (and it WAS brilliant), he was a big reason why Bayern dominated possession in this match. Without his midfield partner in <span>Xabi Alonso</span>, much of the control and distribution responsibilities of Bayern Munich fell to Schweinsteiger. With this match, he thoroughly shook off any questions or concerns about his health or fitness. Der Fußballgott is back</p>
<p>How do you think the players did? Log your vote now!</p>
<p><iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" height="500" width="760" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/147-tKAxV4-3SysMN968X8ITI5-HYyyArZdS3_g3e50k/viewform?embedded=true">Loading...</iframe></p>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/20/7424069/bayern-munich-mainz-player-ratings-meister-matchNoVaBurgher2014-12-19T22:28:18+01:002014-12-19T22:28:18+01:00WATCH: Arjen Robben steals points from Mainz with 89th minute strike<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OXuuwjOd9ZJ/embed/simple" width="600" height="600"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Arjen Robben. He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants. Arjen Robben. He scores when he wants.</p></p></div>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/19/7424029/watch-arjen-robben-steals-points-from-mainz-with-89th-minute-strikeRyan Cowper2014-12-19T21:08:48+01:002014-12-19T21:08:48+01:00This is a video of Manuel Neuer getting nutmegged. Cry now.<iframe class="vine-embed" src="https://vine.co/v/OXBJduBpqnj/embed/simple" width="600" height="600"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Manuel Neuer got nutmegged. The appropriate reaction is "I don't even..."</p></p></div>
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2014/12/19/7423471/this-is-a-video-of-manuel-neuer-getting-nutmegged-cry-nowRyan Cowper