Showing posts with label Bayern Munich. Show all posts
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Bayern Munich yearn for more clinical finish
(Reuters) - It was never going to be an exciting game given the empty stands in the Khimki Arena but Bayern Munich's 1-0 Champions League win at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday highlighted the Germans' need to make their dominance count more effectively.
A 22nd-minute Thomas Mueller penalty put them in the driving seat but despite a string of chances they just could not add to their score.
New transfer Robert Lewandowski, who has so far scored only one goal in a competitive game after clinching the Bundesliga top scorer title last season, had another disappointing night, failing to threaten.
Chances by Mueller, Mario Goetze and Arjen Robben were also wasted as the Bavarians, who were made to work hard against a crowded Russian defence, struggled to make their supremacy count.
"Not only because of the absent fans but also the way CSKA played it was a strange game," Mueller told reporters.
CSKA were forced to play behind closed doors following punishment for racist behaviour of fans.
"It was not easy for us and our lead did do us a lot of good. But we could and should have scored more goals and CSKA were constantly dangerous on the break," Mueller added.
Despite fielding a team who included attacking players like Lewandowski, Goetze, Mueller and Robben, Bayern could not convert any more of their chances in a largely one-sided encounter.
With first-choice central defender Jerome Boateng languishing on the bench with a minor injury and replacement Mehdi Benatia repeatedly outclassed by the Russians, Bayern allowed CSKA to continue hoping for an equaliser until the very end.
Roman Eremenko rattled the cross bar and Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer twice came to the rescue in one-on-one situations to protect their lead.
For coach Pep Guardiola, however, who has repeatedly said his team needed more time to peak due to World Cup fatigue and injuries, the three points that put them top of Group E were all that mattered.
"We can be satisfied to have gotten the three points," said the Spaniard, who led Bayern to the domestic double in his first season in charge. "But up front we were a bit sloppy with the chances because otherwise we were in control."
Guardiola was more affected by the empty tribunes.
"I have been involved in football for 40 years now and I have never seen anything like it. I hope I never have to experience this again."
Tuesday 30 September 2014
Mueller’s penalty brings Bayern victory in Moscow
(Reuters) - Bayern Munich carved out a 1-0 win at CSKA Moscow on Tuesday thanks to Thomas Mueller's first-half penalty in the strangely muted atmosphere of a cold, damp and deserted Khimki Arena.
The Group E match was played in front of an empty house after a ban from European soccer's governing body UEFA was imposed for the racist behaviour of CSKA's fans.
The lack of atmosphere only made life more comfortable for the five-time champions as they dominated proceedings on the way to their second straight victory in this year's competition.
The German champions could have scored several against the injury-hit hosts but CSKA put up a spirited performance and could look back with dismay on their own missed opportunities.
CSKA's Finland midfielder Roman Eremenko even hit the bar in the first half with one curling effort but the decisive moment proved to be Mueller's 21st minute spot-kick.
After Germany team mate Mario Goetze was fouled in the area by Mario Fernandes, Mueller notched his 22nd career goal in Europe's elite competition with his expertly-taken strike. Goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev had conceded in his last 22 Champions League matches, dating back to 2006, and his unwanted record continued as he picked the ball gloomily out of the net.
BLAZED OVER
Goetze could have put the Bundesliga leaders ahead after nine minutes but Germany's World Cup final match-winner blazed a right-footed effort over the bar from close range.
When CSKA slowly began to find their rhythm, the quick feet of Ahmed Musa caused problems for the visitors' defence. The diminutive Nigerian forward managed to get free of Bayern's Mehdi Benatia and home in on goal but was foiled by Manuel Neuer's excellent save. The ball broke kindly for Zoran Tosic, who had time and space to manoeuvre the ball on to his favoured left foot, but the Serbian international ballooned the ball over the bar from an excellent position. CSKA were left to rue a number of missed chances in the first half but Bayern shut down the game expertly after the break, controlling the threat of CSKA substitute Seydou Doumbia and hardly giving the hosts a sniff of an equaliser.
It was Bayern who came closest to scoring again, with Goetze curling an effort just wide, but manager Pep Guardiola could at least be satisfied to see his side leading Group E with a maximum six points before AS Roma sought to match them with a victory at Manchester City in one of Tuesday's later games.
CSKA have still to earn a point but their performance was a vast improvement on their 5-1 trouncing in Rome a fortnight earlier.
Tuesday 16 September 2014
Injury-hit Bayern still a tough test for City - Kompany
(Reuters) - Injury-hit Bayern Munich pose a big test for Manchester City on Wednesday in what should prove a good gauge of their Champions League ambitions this season, City captain Vincent Kompany said.
City beat Bayern 3-2 in Munich in the group stage last season and the Bundesliga champions are ravaged by injury ahead of their Group E opener.
"We are not favourites," Kompany told reporters on Tuesday. "But the beauty of this game is that every year is a chance to start again.
"It is difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow but as we move on we will get stronger," said Kompany, whose team needed a late header by Martin Demichelis, a former Bayern player, to snatch a 2-2 draw against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
Bayern will be without experienced Franck Ribery with fellow winger Arjen Robben also doubtful. Central defender Holger Badstuber tore a thigh muscle tendon on Saturday and requires surgery. He joins Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thiago Alcantara, Rafinha and Javi Martinez on the sidelines.
City are desperate to finally break into Europe's football elite after years of vast investment in the club.
"There are probably not many harder places to come to," said the Belgium international. "It is time to close the gap between us and those three, four best clubs in the world.
"It is a good thing to start with such a game. But it is just the first step in the group stage," said the 28-year-old defender.
Kompany and his team mates will be without Argentine Pablo Zabaleta, who is serving a one-game suspension following his red card in last season's round of 16 and suspended coach Manuel Pellegrini, who is sitting out a touchline ban for a referee outburst last season.
Assistant coach Ruben Cousillas will be in charge for the game with the Argentine saying Pellegrini had full confidence in him to run such a big game.
"Of course we will miss Manuel. However I know how he thinks and I have his 100 percent confidence," Cousillas told reporters.
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