Bayern Munich 2004-2005 season

[Lance Knight]

Sunday, February 13, 2005

Arminia Bielefeld 3-1 Bayern Munich: FT Report

PA

BIELEFELD, February 13 (Bundesliga) - Arminia Bielefeld claimed the prized scalp of Bayern Munich on Sunday with a stunning victory in front of a jubilant sell-out crowd at the Schuco Arena.

Massimilian Porcello, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Ervin Skela, put Arminia ahead in the 23rd minute before Delron Buckley made it 2-0 just after the hour-mark.

Lucio pulled a goal back for Bayern direct from a free-kick in the 80th minute, but Buckley struck his 13th goal of the season three minutes later to secure the victory.

Bayern, adapting better to the wintry conditions, started well and Michael Ballack hammered a 20-yard effort over the bar in the 11th minute before Roy Makaay and Hasan Salihamidzic had promising efforts blocked by some desperate Bielefeld defending.

But the home side inflicted the ultimate sucker-punch on Bayern as they took the lead with their first goalscoring opportunity.

Porcello, latching onto a Marcio Borges' flick-on from Detlev Dammeier's deep free-kick, beat Oliver Kahn with a low shot from six yards out for the first goal conceded by the Bavarians in 2005.

That stung the league leaders and they almost pulled a goal back in the 28th minute when Paolo Guerrero's far post header was well parried by Mathias Hain.

The game then swept down to the other end of the pitch where Arminia had a chance to double their lead when Rudiger Kauf sent Buckley in the clear.

However, instead of shooting, the South African international opted to try and find the unmarked Fatmir Vata and Bayern defender Robert Kovac was able to intercept.

Bayern coach Felix Magath decided to strengthen his attacking options at the start of the second half, bringing on Mehmet Scholl for Owen Hargreaves.

And the veteran playmaker almost made an immediate impact with a cross that Ballack headed wide.

Bayern's inability to take their chances cost them dear when Arminia doubled their lead in the 61st minute, much to the delight of the packed 26,500 crowd.

Kauf gained possession of the ball in midfield and quickly sent away Buckley, who produced a fierce shot on the run to make it 2-0.

Miserable conditions as well as some stellar defending made life hard for the superstars from Munich to get back into the game.

Hain did well to tip a dangerous Ballack header over the bar following a Sagnol free-kick in the 72nd minute, while Vata and Buckley kept Bayern busy on the counter-attack.

It was a dead-ball situation that finally breached the Arminia goal.

Standing some 30 yards out, Lucio unleashed a sensational shot that flew into the back of the net and gave Bayern hope of claiming something from the match.

But the visitors were too keen to throw men forward in search of a quick equaliser and Buckley made them pay three minutes later.

Michael Fink lobbed the ball over the Bayern defence and Buckley, with no defender anywhere near him, was able to grab his second goal of the night.

That wrapped up the victory for Arminia and the team, having ended a seven-game winning streak in remarkable fashion, duly received a standing ovation as they left the pitch.

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, February 19, 2005

Bayern Munich 5-0 Borussia Dortmund: FT Report

PA

MUNICH, February 19 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich and Mehmet Scholl in particular gave Arsene Wenger something to think about ahead of Tuesday's Champions League second round clash with arguably their best performance of the season at the Olympic Stadium.

Scholl set up three goals before being replaced in the 63rd minute to keep him fresh for Tuesday's vital European fixture, but he certainly made the difference as Bayern moved three points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

Bayern opened up a two-goal lead in the first six minutes with Hasan Salihamidzic and Roy Makaay scoring in the space of sixty seconds.

And the game was over before half-time as Claudio Pizarro and Makaay again raised the lead to four.

Scholl's final piece of action was to set Makaay up for his hat-trick ten minutes into the second half.

Bayern's focus was clearly on the Bundesliga and not Tuesday's Champions League clash as they raced into a two-goal lead with only six minutes on the clock.

Calamitous defending allowed Bayern's Salihamidzic and Makaay to strike twice in the space of 60 seconds.

First, Makaay was afforded acres of room at the near post to tee up his shot, which deflected towards the far post and the waiting Bosnian, who ensured the ball crossed the line from close range.

Dortmund didn't have time to lick their wounds as Bayern struck again immediately with Ze Roberto threading Makaay through to slide home the second within a minute of the restart.

The visitors' defence was being ripped apart regularly by Bayern's veteran tactician Scholl and it was his delicate touch that set the home side up for the third just before the half hour mark.

It was one-touch football between Scholl, Pizarro and Makaay with the Peruvian striker putting away a rising shot into the top corner after receiving Makaay's return ball.

Scholl again carved a hole into the Dortmund defence and Makaay grabbed his second of the day as he scuffed the ball through the legs of Roman Weidenfeller and the ball trickled across the line for Bayern's fourth 10 minutes before the break.

There was no let up in the second half and, unsurprisingly, it was Scholl who set up Makaay for the fifth, which he once again slid beyond the overworked Weidenfeller.

Scholl's work was done for the day and he left the field to a rapturous applause with 20 minutes left as Bastian Schweinsteiger took not only his position, but his role as playmaker.

Weidenfeller made a couple of saves to prevent the sixth goal going in.

[nachi88]

Bayern just beat Freiburg away 1-0 thanks to a deisler goal. Welcome back Deisler. I didnt watch the match. Any one seen it? how was the game?

[Lance Knight]

nah i missed it, but a much needed win seeing that we are tied at the top on points

[nachi88]

Deisler Bayerns Matchwinner

Sebastian Deisler hat dem FC Bayern mit seinem zweiten Saisontor den ersten Auswärtssieg seit Mitte November beschert. Dank einer schönen Einzelleistung des Nationalspielers gewann der Rekordmeister beim SC Freiburg mit 1:0 (0:0) und bleibt damit auch nach dem 23. Spieltag an der Tabellenspitze - drei Punkte vor dem FC Schalke 04, der allerdings erst am Sonntag sein Heimspiel gegen Hannover 96 bestreitet und wieder gleichziehen könnte.

Vor 25.000 Zuschauern im „badenova“-Stadion konnten sich die Münchner im ersten Abschnitt bei Oliver Kahn bedanken, der mit einigen Glanzparaden einen Rückstand verhinderte. In der zweiten Hälfte agierten die Bayern dann druckvoller und kamen durch Deislers Teffer zu einem alles in allem verdienten Erfolg.

Wie schon in den letzten Spielen hatte Felix Magath auch im Breisgau eine Überraschung parat. So kam Deisler unweit seines Heimatortes Lörrach zu seinem ersten Einsatz von Beginn an seit Oktober 2004. Dafür musste Torsten Frings zunächst auf der Bank Platz nehmen. Ansonsten vertraute Magath den gleichen Spielern, die am Dienstag für den 3:1-Erfolg gegen Arsenal gesorgt hatten. Michael Ballack fehlte weiterhin wegen Muskelproblemen.

Die Freiburger legten los wie die Feuerwehr und drückten den Tabellenführer vom Anpfiff weg in die eigene Hälfte. Die erste dicke Torchance hatten allerdings die Gäste aus München. In der 14. Minute passte Claudio Pizarro auf seinen Sturmpartner Roy Makaay, der umspielte Gegenspieler Mohamad und zog mit links von der Strafraumgrenze ab. Der Ball ging ganz knapp am linken Pfosten vorbei.

Mehr als diese gute Szene hatte die Magath-Elf aber in der kompletten ersten Hälfte nicht zu bieten. Viele Bälle wurden schon unweit der Mittellinie gegen die früh störenden Hausherren verloren. Im Angriffsspiel fehlten die Ideen, um die gut stehenden Freiburger in Bedrängnis zu bringen. Den ersten Eckball hatten die Bayern erst in der 42. Minute.

Zu diesem Zeitpunkt hätte der Sportclub schon längst in Führung liegen können. Alleine Oliver Kahn klärte mehrfach in höchster Not. So wie in der 25. Minute, als der Nationalkeeper einen 30-Meter-Freistoß von Coulibaly aus dem Kreuzeck fischte. Auch beim abgefälschten Schuss von Bajramovic (30.) und gegen Kruppke (43.) aus kurzer Entfernung war der 35-Jährige zur Stelle.

Magath reagierte auf die enttäuschende Vorstellung seiner Mannschaft und brachte Mehmet Scholl für Hasan Salihamidzic in die Partie. Wahrscheinlich wird der Bayern-Coach in der Kabine auch ein paar ernste Worte an seine Spieler gerichtet haben, denn mit dem Wiederanpfiff wurde das Spiel der Bayern druckvoller.

Und in der 52. Minute gelang dem Herbstmeister sogar die Führung - in Person von Deisler. Nachdem er in der 48. Minute aus aussichtsreicher Position noch verzog, machte der Nationalspieler wenig später alles richtig. Zunächst ließ er Ibertsberger mit einer Körpertäuschung stehen und traf anschließend mit einem strammen Schuss aus halbrechter Position ins linke untere Eck. Für Deisler war es der zweite Saisontreffer.

Die Bayern hatten den Gegner jetzt besser im Griff. Makaay versuchte es in der 56. Minute einmal aus der zweiten Reihe und verfehlte sein Ziel nur knapp. Auch bei Pizarros Kopfball nach einer Sagnol-Flanke fehlte nicht viel (64).

So blieb es weiterhin spannend, denn Mitte der zweiten Hälfte konnte Freiburg die Partie wieder offener gestalten, ohne allerdings die Bayern ähnlich in Bedrängnis zu bringen, wie noch im ersten Abschnitt. Der Rekordmeister brachte den siebten Sieg in Folge gegen den Sportclub routiniert über die Runden. Schon in vier Tagen bietet sich Freiburg im DFB-Pokal-Viertelfinale an gleicher Stelle die Chance zur Revanche.

[Lance Knight]

english please.........

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, March 19, 2005

Bayern Munich 3-1 Hansa Rostock: FT Report

PA

MUNICH, March 19 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich weren't at their best but what they had to offer in a weak display was still enough to defeat relegation-threatened Hansa Rostock at the Olympic Stadium.

Rostock took the lead through their number three Uwe Mohrle in the 16th minute, a goal which was cancelled out five minutes before the break by Bayern's number three Lucio.

The home side went ahead through a deflected Claudio Pizarro shot in the 65th minute and Michael Ballack's penalty with one minute remaining was enough to take Bayern back to the top of the Bundesliga, at least until Schalke play Mainz on Sunday.

Bayern's recent goal-shy attack was given a boost when Roy Makaay declared himself fit to return after a three-game break with a thigh strain and the Dutchman almost marked his return with the opening goal after seven minutes.

Bayern have not managed a goal since Makaay left the field two minutes before the end of the 1-0 home win over Werder Bremen and he was just a hair's breadth from changing that with a curling free-kick which cannoned back off the inside of Matthias Schober's post.

But it was the guests who took the lead while Bayern switched off in defence, allowing Mohrle to head past Kahn for his first goal of the season.

The Rostock defender had remained unnoticed in the visitor's front line after Bayern cleared their lines from a corner, but the ball soon found it's way back into the centre from Marco Vorbeck, where the unmarked Mohrle flicked a header beyond Kahn's right hand.

It was perhaps the wrong time for Rostock to score a goal with 74 minutes remaining to defend their lead and Bayern were stung by going behind.

Martin Demichelis has claimed a regular first team berth following some stirring defensive performances of late, but it was his attacking skills and strength in the air that almost led to the equaliser with two headers going close, but not close enough.

Just like Rostock's goal had come from an unlikely outlet, so too was Bayern's equaliser with Lucio claiming only his second goal of the season and ending a 300-minute goal drought for Bayern in the 41st minute.

The Brazilian defender beat the offside trap to reach Ze Roberto's lobbed pass and fire low past Schober from close range.

Claudio Pizarro missed a succession of chances to put Bayern ahead before the interval, but the fortune that eluded him before the break was at his feet in the second half as he put Bayern ahead.

Bastian Schweinsteiger, who had earlier seen a legitimate penalty claim waved away by referee Florian Meyer, sent Pizarro clear and the Peruvian's shot from a tight angle deflected cruelly off the leg of Denis Lapaczinski to give Schober no chance at his near post.

Pizarro almost turned provider when he laid the ball back for Bixente Lizarazu, who struck a sweet left-foot shot just inches wide of the post from 15 yards out as Bayern began to dominate.

Demichelis did finally have the ball in the back of the net from his third header, but the offside flag dampened his celebrations before they could begin.

Bayern put the game beyond Rostock in the 89th minute thanks mainly to a piece of individual magic from Ze Roberto, who beat at least six challenges to dribble the ball into the box where Ballack was fouled by Mohrle, this time Meyer pointed to the spot.

Ballack stepped up to place the spot-kick into the top corner of Schober's goal to ensure Bayern return to the top of the pile despite never really hitting top gear.

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, April 2, 2005

VfL Wolfsburg 0-3 Bayern Munich: FT Report

PA

WOLFSBURG, April 2 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich took a further step towards a 19th Bundesliga title with a professional win over VfL Wolfsburg in the VW-Arena on Saturday.

Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring after 29 minutes with a Kevin Hoflund own goal just before the break and Torsten Frings' third after 55 minutes allowing Bayern to take it easy in preparation for a trip to Chelsea on Wednesday.

The only sour note on an otherwise good day at the office for Bayern coach Felix Magath was the sight of Claudio Pizarro limping off injured after just five minutes.

The Peruvian striker is likely to miss both Champions League games with Chelsea after tearing muscle fibres in his thigh while chasing down a through ball early on with Paolo Guerrero called into action somewhat earlier than expected.

Magath was able to rest Roy Makaay for the last 30 minutes, however, and give a run-out to Mehmet Scholl, who could be Pizarro's replacement in London on Wednesday.

From the whistle, the Wolfsburg fans called for their side to show a willingness to fight for the ball and at least show they were intent on winning the game.

And for the opening half an hour, Eric Gerets' side did just that, creating the better chances while Bayern remained on the back foot with Martin Petrov forcing Oliver Kahn into a diving save from a 30-yard free-kick and Marko Topic firing over after beating Martin Demichelis.

Bayern's attack was so inconspicuous that nobody really noticed the arrival of Guerrero as a replacement for the injured Pizarro after only five minutes.

Guerrero was the only striker on Bayern's bench which - with Owen Hargreaves, Jens Jeremies, Sebastian Deisler and Mehmet Scholl - contained a midfield that would be the envy of many Bundesliga sides.

But the four-man midfield on the pitch showed why they were keeping so many big names on the sideline as Frings and Schweinsteiger combined for the opener with Bayern's first real attack.

Following a period of possession, Frings decided to get more pro-active and sent in a cross from the right which sailed past everyone inside the six-yard box, except Schweinsteiger who placed a composed shot back into the far corner of Simon Jentzsch's goal.

Bayern's effectiveness in their rare ventures into the Wolfsburg half proved the difference between the two sides with a touch of luck also playing its part in the second goal.

Schweinsteiger was again involved as he continued a mazy run right to the Wolfsburg goal line before pulling a low pass back to the feet of Roy Makaay.

The Dutchman's shot was saved well by Jentzsch, but the rebound from the Wolves' goalkeeper cannoned back off the legs of Hofland and back into the unguarded net, giving Bayern a two-goal advantage at the break.

The impressive Schweinsteiger should have put the result beyond any doubt just minutes into the second period when he dribbled the ball past Jentzsch, but he continued dribbling the ball past the now retreated Wolfsburg defenders before collapsing under an inexistent challenge instead of firing a shot at goal early.

He made amends, however, with the cross that allowed Bayern to seal the win after 55 minutes.

Frings, playing arguably one of his best performances in a Bayern shirt in his preferred attacking-midfield position, set the ball rolling and was in the right place to flick Schweinsteiger's cross in off the far post with his head.

Scholl was given a 30-minute run-out as a replacement for Makaay and Martin Demichelis made way for Deisler as Magath rested key players for the trip to Chelsea on Wednesday with the points assured and their place at the top of the Bundesliga confirmed.

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, April 9, 2005

Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia M'gladbach: FT Report

PA

MUNICH, April 9 (Bundesliga) - Michael Ballack got the goal that took Bayern a huge step closer to a 19th Bundesliga title as Munich claimed a win over Borussia Monchengladbach at the Olympic Stadium while nearest challengers Schalke went down 3-0 to Stuttgart.

Ivo Ulich put the visitors into a shock lead after 64 minutes when he popped up to head home unchallenged with Monchengladbach's first effort of the game.

The lead lasted less than 60 seconds as a shaken Bayern drew level with a goal bundled in by Mehmet Scholl.

Borussia were reduced to 10 men in the 69th minute when Craig Moore was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on Paolo Guerrero that may even have merited a straight red.

The Australian defender didn't even wait for referee Manuel Grafe to reach into his pocket as he made his way immediately towards the tunnel.

Ballack's 84th minute winner sent both joy and relief around the stadium as the home fans welcomed a hard-fought three points against Gladbach, who sink closer towards the bottom three as a result.

Bayern were quick out of the traps with Ballack, who received a lot of criticism from the media for the way he earned a last-minute penalty against Chelsea in midweek, looking to create the right sort of headlines with a bursting run forward.

The only thing lacking was the support as he beat Filip Daems to the goalline but couldn't find a red shirt with the cross.

Hasan Salihamidzic and Guerrero combined well as Bayern went close after 10 minutes, the former firing his shot wide of Kasey Keller's far post after a neat one-two with the Peruvian striker.

As the rain began to power down on the Olympic Stadium, conditions under foot made staying on both feet the hardest challenge, at least that's what Ballack will claim after he collapsed to the ground between a sandwich of Moore and Nico van Kerckhoven.

Unlike on Wednesday, Grafe did not point to the spot.

Another theatrical fall from Ballack, this time under the close attention of Per Kluge, gave Lucio the chance to put Keller under threat for the first time from a set piece, but the Brazilian's curling shot missed the upright by inches.

The game needed something to brighten it up with not only the skies looking grey before the visitors took a surprise lead with their first effort of the game on target.

Marcell Jansen beat Willy Sagnol down the Gladbach left and lofted his cross to the far post where Ulich had an easy header from point-blank range after Oliver Kahn flapped at the cross.

Bayern's response was immediate, however, as substitute Mehmet Scholl powered through the Gladbach defence with his never-say-die attitude which culminated in an easy tap in as the ball bobbled around inside the six-yard box.

As if the home side weren't lifted enough by the quick reply, their chances of success were given a further boost when Moore was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Guerrero on the edge of the box.

With just 10 men and Bayern in the ascendancy, Borussia appeared certain to face a tough final 20 minutes, and so it proved.

Guerrero had a 20-yard shot tipped wide by Keller, who also saved from Makaay's far post header and was fortunate to see the Dutchman strike the rebound against the outside of the post.

It seemed only a matter of time before the home side went ahead and it was Ballack who lifted the 63,000 fans from their seats with the winning goal six minutes from the end.

Sagnol swung in a cross from the right and Ballack seemed to have an eternity to wait before reaching the ball ahead of Keller and heading into the open goal.

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, April 16, 2005

Hannover 96 0-1 Bayern Munich: FT Report

PA

HANNOVER, April 16 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich are closing in on the Bundesliga title after a day that could hardly have been scripted better for the Bavarian giants.

A stoppage-time goal from substitute Owen Hargreaves at the AWD-Arena gave Bayern maximum points at Hannover and allowed them to pull clear of their rivals - Schalke, Stuttgart and Werder Bremen, who all lost on Saturday.

With just five games remaining, the Bavarians have six points on Schalke, and eight and 12 respectively on Stuttgart and Bremen, the defending champions.

Felix Magath now looks certain to win the title in his first season since replacing Ottmar Hitzfeld as coach and the win will also banish memories of their disappointing Champions League elimination by Chelsea.

Claudio Pizarro had Bayern's best chances in a bright opening 10 minutes, but Hannover came back into the match and had their best chance through Silvio Schroter.

Pizarro had a goal dubiously ruled out for offside, and although the win for Bayern was still slightly fortunate, it was enough to take them to within touching distance of the Bundesliga title.

Bayern started where they left off against Chelsea on Tuesday night, putting the home side under immediate, continued pressure in search of an early goal to settle any nerves.

Pizarro kept Hannover goalkeeper Robert Enke busy with a brace of chances in the 11th minute following good build-up play from Willy Sagnol and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Hannover were pegged back in their own half, but with seven defensive-minded players on the field, Bayern pressure was exactly what Ewald Lienen had planned for.

He would have expected it to last longer than it did, however, before his side started to set the tone of the game and have the better chances with Jiri Kaufman coming close to beating keeper Oliver Kahn after being put through by Altin Lala. The German international dived on the loose ball at the second attempt.

The visitors thought they had gone ahead after 20 minutes when Claudio Pizarro finished a well-worked move involving Torsten Frings and Ze Roberto, but the offside flag was raised despite Michael Tarnat's position playing the Peruvian striker on-side.

The best chance of the first half fell to the home side 15 minutes before the break, but Silvio Schroter could only find the outside of the net after being released by Steven Cherundolo.

Pizarro came close to scoring again early in the second half as he pulled his shot across goal and wide of the far post by a matter of inches.

Lienen reacted by introducing Thomas Christiansen and Jiri Stajner to add a more attacking look to his side and Magath did likewise with Mehmet Scholl replacing the disappointing Ze Roberto.

But neither side were enhanced by the arrival of fresh legs as the game failed to match the energy and enthusiasm of the 49,000 fans in the AWD-Arena.

Instead, it was another, more defensive-minded substitute, who made the difference with a goal in the last minute for Bayern Munich.

Hargreaves put his finger to his lips to silence the critics just minutes after his arrival as a replacement for Schweinsteiger with his first touch finding the back of the net in stoppage time.

Pizarro held the ball up and laid it back to the Englishman whose powerful drive flew beyond Enke's hand into the far corner just seconds before the final whistle for his first goal in more than 12 months.

It was enough to take Bayern a giant leap closer to a 19th title with the season entering its finale.

[jonas_kengen]

almost time to open the bubbly baby!! and the first toast goes to Hamburg for a splendid victory. Great way to put the midweek defeat behind us.

[Ivan7637]

yeah, i'm really happy shalke lost. :D

[nachi88]

Bayern beat Arminia Bielefeld 2-0 in DFB-Pokal.. Now they have final with Schalke 04.


The double remains firmly in Bayern's sights after the Reds booked a meeting with Schalke in the German Cup final on 28 May in Berlin courtesy of Michael Ballack's early header and Roy Makaay's last-gasp penalty against Bielefeld, although the favourites were made to work hard by brave Arminia in a classic Cup semi-final scrap.

The 26,600 packing the Alm stadium to the rafters saw a whirlwind first half with a perfect start for the visitors, fit-again Ballack heading home from Bastian Schweinsteiger's corner after just three minutes.

The grimly determined underdogs more or less matched the Bundesliga leaders in a breathless encounter and Oliver Kahn made three important saves to prevent an equaliser.

But the brave home side gradually ran out of steam and the visitors hung on for victory, Roy Makaay giving the scoreline a slightly flattering appearance with a disputed penalty deep into stoppage time after an incident which saw ref Markus Merk brandish the red card at Delron Buckley.

The Reds will brush off the controversy as they contemplate a 14th appearance in the final, where Munich will be bent on revenge against arch-rivals Schalke, twice conquerors of the Bavarians this term.

Felix Magath made two changes to the side which beat Hanover on Saturday, relegating Zé Roberto and Hasan Salihamidzic to the bench and restoring Ballack and Bixente Lizarazu, both fit again after injury and illness.

The David v Goliath classic got off to a cracking start with 100 percent determination and no quarter given or asked by either side.

Torsten Frings had already tried his luck before Ballack rose unmarked to net Schweinsteiger's third minute corner and hand Bayern a precious early lead.

But the underdogs responded courageously and Kahn did extremely well to deny Delron Buckley, a two-goal hero in Arminia's 3-1 league victory on the same ground, as the South African sought to capitalise on Lizarazu's error just a short time later.

The game developed into a blood and thunder scrap now and Robert Kovac was the first victim of some tasty challenges, limping off on 17 minutes to be replaced by Salihamidzic.

Martin Demichelis dropped into the back four, Frings assumed the holding role and the Bosnia man took over on the left, immediately forcing a save from home keeper Matthias Hain after Roy Makaay's deft flick freed Brazzo to shoot.

Bayern appeared to have drawn Bielefeld's sting but Borges offered a sharp reminder of the threat posed by the home side with a header just inches past the upright on the half-hour.

There were bookings for Liarazu and Makaay as the half drew to a close, but dismay for Demichelis in injury time: the Argentine had the ball in the net only to be ruled offside by referee Markus Merk.

Arminia emerged for the second period in do-or-die mood and Kahn brilliantly parried Schuler's 51st minute drive, before Buckley drilled an effort narrowly wide two minutes later.

Magath responded by withdrawing the out-of-sorts Lizarazu and sending on Zé, Salihamidzic dropping to left-back to accommodate the left winger.

But the Reds were strangely content to let Bielefeld come at them, and only a fingertip save from Kahn prevented Albania playmaker Erwin Skela equalising after 66 minutes.

Munich were stirred into life and both Makaay and Salihamidzic came close, but the real golden opportunity fell to the luckless Demichelis with 15 minutes remaining, the hard-man's close-range header cannoning back off the bar.

The Bielefeld storm was finally blowing out now and Hain reacted sharply to deny Schweinsteiger, although substitute Roberto Pinto blasted over Kahn's goal to usher in a breathless end-to-end finish.

Hain pulled off a sprawling save from Makaay but the keeper was finally beaten two minutes into added time, the Dutch ace slotting home from the spot after Lense had felled Pizarro.

Buckley blotted his copybook by shoving Merk in a melee of disbelieving home players after the ref had whistled, and the South African duly received his marching orders as the emotions finally boiled over on a thrilling evening of passion and drama.

[Nebeltier]

The double is well on the cards, but I would have prefered Bremen in the final. I don't like Schalke a bit (they look like an italian outfit...at least in the european matches I've seen them play). Bremen have always played offensive football and I think we would have been in for a treat (a goal festival)...with Schalke as finalists I expect a 1-0 scoreline (Bayern's double!)

[baggy]

Bayern 3 Bochum 1
Reds poised to seal Bundesliga crown

23.04.2005

Bayern made heavy weather of ten-man Bochum for a spell, but an ultimately deserved victory and their rivals' slip-ups mean a 19th domestic championship is close to a formality as Munich lead the league by nine points with just four games remaining.

The capacity 63,000 crowd at the Olympic stadium saw the Reds cruise through the first half-hour, goals from Claudio Pizarro and Michael Ballack sandwiching a straight red card shown to visiting keeper Rein van Duijnhoven for handling outside the area.

But Munich inexplicably dozed off for the next 30 minutes and lived dangerously for a spell. Both Mamadou Diabang and Edu hit the woodwork, and Filip Tapalovic pulled one back early in the second half.

That appeared to light the spark under the home side and Roy Makaay restored the two-goal advantage shortly after the hour.

A curate's egg of a performance was still enough to seal the points, and with Schalke falling heavily in Berlin and Stuttgart unable to overcome Wolfsburg, Bayern could wrap up the trophy next weekend in Kaiserslautern.

Felix Magath made two changes to his starting line up. Robert Kovac failed to recover from a knock picked up against Bielefeld in midweek, so Martin Demichelis deputised in the back four with Owen Hargreaves in the holding role as a reward for last week's late match-winner in Hanover.

The other change saw Zé Roberto restored in place of suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger, with Torsten Frings retaining his place but over on the right flank.

The leaders tore into the Ruhr Valley visitors from the off and steamed into a ninth minute lead, Pizarro twisting past Tapalovic's weak challenge onto Willy Sagnol's delightful chipped pass and blasting past van Duijnhoven from a tight angle for his tenth of the season – all of them at the Olympic stadium.

Relegation candidates Bochum, handicapped by the loss of six regulars to suspension and injury and with a makeshift back four, made a tough task even harder for themselves on the quarter hour when van Duijnhoven handled outside the box to deny Roy Makaay after the Netherlands hitman had capitalised on former Munich youth Philip Bönig's slip.

Referee Kircher looked almost apologetic as he brandished the red card, but the experienced Dutch keeper accepted his fate and trudged from the field.

Skipper Dariusz Wosz was sacrificed for reserve netminder Christian Vander, but before long the replacement keeper was piking the ball from the net. Sagnol again filled the provider role, surging infield before laying off neatly for Ballack to blast home right-footed from 18 metres on 26 minutes.

The home side were coasting but steadily lost concentration for a spell, perhaps understandable at 2-0 against the ten men of the side lying 16th but hardly a wise approach.

Mamadou Diabang hit the foot of the post with Kahn beaten in Bochum's first real attack on 36 minutes, and the Reds keeper was obliged to concede a direct free-kick two minutes later, saving Lucio's wayward back-pass with his hands to prevent an embarrassing own-goal.

Zé lobbed over the bar as Bayern attempted to re-assert control, but Bochum refused to lie down and the unfortunate Tapalovic redeemed himself with a firm header to pull one back on 51 minutes from former Munich prodigy Zvejdan Misimovic' inswinging corner.

Bayern were finally shaken into action and Pizarro seized on Soren Colding's loose pass to release Makaay on 63 minutes, the Dutch marksman striding forward and beating Vander all ends up with a firm finish.

The leaders never looked like losing control again, and Vander saved well from Sagnol and then brilliantly from Ballack as the visitors began to lose heart.

Late substitute and former Bochum star Vahid Hashemian almost notched his first in Bayern colours against his former club but headed over at the death, and the Reds engaged cruise control to wind down the clock and pocket the valuable points.

Bayern Munich - VfL Bochum 3-1 (H-T: 2-0)

Bayern Munich: Kahn - Sagnol, Lucio, Demichelis, Lizarazu - Frings (Deisler 55), Hargreaves, Zé Roberto (Salihamidzic 55), Ballack - Pizarro (Hashemian 81), Makaay

Substitutes: Rensing, Linke, Guerrero, Santa Cruz

VfL Bochum: van Duijnhoven - Colding (Zdebel 75), Tapalovic, Meichelbeck, Bönig - Bechmann, Misimovic, Preuß, Wosz (Vander 16), Edu - Diabang (Grote 75)

Referee: Mr Kircher (Rottenburg)

Spectators: 63,000 (capacity)

Goals: 1-0 Pizarro (9), 2-0 Ballack (26), 2-1 Tapalovic (51), 3-1 Makaay (63)

Yellow Cards: Demichelis / Tapalovic

Red Cards: Van Duijnhoven (15)

[Ivan7637]

Shalke lost 4-1!!! :D

[baggy]

Shalke lost 4-1!!! :D

.... which means that Bayern need three more points to become champions! :D

[Lance Knight]

well its not like i ever doubted them, there are barely contested in the league anymore

[nachi88]

To clear doubt about the bundesliga, I decided to post this analysis..

Right now, Bayern have 9 points lead over schlake 04.

Bayern and schalke have 4 games left...

bayern- away with kasierslautern,away with mainz, home to nurnberg and away to vfb stuttgart.

Kaiserslautern, are very far from relegation, and very far from a uefa cup spot too, so they dont care about the games any more. I predict a bayern win in this.

Nurnberg and mainz both have to fight to be sure to avoid relegation. So those games will be tougher, and if bayern wins one of them, they are almost surely champions.

the stuttgart game, i suspect bayern will not play full strength for 2 reasons
1) To rest all their players before the dfb pokal cup match, as they will already have own the bundesliga by then.
2) To get psychological victory over schalke, by giving vfb second place. Also, the south- south brotherhood helps sometimes.. :D

Also, VFB will play like devils in that game.. as its for sure CL spot.

Schalke's fixtures-
home to leverkusen, home to bielefeld, home to dortmund, away to freiburg.

Of these three fixtures, they have only an easy win against freiburg. Leverkusen match could well decide fate of bundesliga, as leverkusen will fight like crazy for a uefa spot atleast.

This has been a very bad finish to an otherwise fine season from schalke. They were knocked out of uefa cup.. in which I thought they were strongest. 4 consecutive losses in Bundesliga, and now they gifted Bayern the title.

[arminius]

But at least they have the cup final to look foward to.

[nachi88]

But at least they have the cup final to look foward to.

yes, but if they play the way they did in the last 2 games they are sure to lose.

Against werder in dfb pokal semifinal: If it wasnt for Rost, who denied klasnic and klose in a double save 5 minutes before time, they would be out.

Against Hertha, they looked as though they had been drugged :silly:
Poulsen was hardly running, marcelinho just stepped to his side and shot the goal, which poulsen didnt even attempt a block. Ebbe sand playing in zorro mask :D becuase of his broken nose, was afraid to take challenges ( so that injury is not severe) and didnt win any high balls becuase of that.

This is going to be most one sided dfb pokal match in many seasons.
Arminius, time to switch loyalties.

:D

[arminius]

I'm quietly confident, in a one off match anything is possible and schalke's record against bayern over recent years is outstanding, bayern are a more consistent team whereas schalke are more up and down, they usually do well against top teams, the main problem is they find a way to lose against the crap teams.

[baggy]

I'm quietly confident, in a one off match anything is possible and schalke's record against bayern over recent years is outstanding, bayern are a more consistent team whereas schalke are more up and down, they usually do well against top teams, the main problem is they find a way to lose against the crap teams.

I don't really think that the record against Bayern and the good performance against big teams will help Schalke that much. It's just the matter of fact that they are playing so bad these latest times: 4 loses in a row in the last 8 matches of the season - that's not the continuity that a "wanna be Champion and Cup-winner" has to have!

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, April 30, 2005

Kaiserslautern 0-4 Bayern Munich: FT Report

PA

KAISERSLAUTERN, April 30 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich were crowned champions of Germany for the 19th time on Saturday after thumping Kaiserslautern to open up an insurmountable 11-point lead over second-placed Schalke with three games of the season remaining.

Roy Makaay hit the goalscoring trail once again with a hat-trick to give the Bavarian side a convincing victory while Schalke were held to a 3-3 draw by Bayer Leverkusen, ending their outside chances of overhauling Felix Magath's side.

Michael Ballack put the visitors ahead in the 19th minute before Dutch international Makaay struck in the 35th, 48th and 68th minutes to seal the points and the title in style.

Even without captain Oliver Kahn, Bayern proved more than a match for a hapless Kaiserslautern, who rarely threatened Kahn's deputy Michael Rensing in the Bayern goal.

It seemed only a matter of time before Bayern found the back of the net after a lively start in which Claudio Pizarro crashed a header against the crossbar and Ballack fired inches wide.

Ballack then confirmed his recent resurgence with the opening goal, the Germany midfielder finding the target with a shot on the turn that gave Thomas Ernst no chance.

Makaay then took centre stage.

He headed home his 14th goal of the season after good work by Willy Sagnol down the right in a period in which Kaiserslautern briefly threatened to equalise.

The former Deportivo La Coruna striker then made it 3-0 at the start of the second half when he latched onto a long pass from Owen Hargreaves before beating Ingo Hertzsch and slotting the ball home.

It took Makaay a further 20 minutes to seal his hat-trick, and he did so in equally cool fashion to his second, beating Ernst in a one-on-one situation after being put through by Ballack.

As if that wasn't bad enough for hosts Kaiserslautern, the introduction of Mehmet Scholl brought yet another dimension to Bayern's attacking game when he replaced Sagnol in the 72nd minute.

And the former Germany international was close to adding his name to the scoresheet with a fine free-kick just moments after his arrival.

Five minutes later, and Scholl came even closer to grabbing a fifth for Bayern, but Lucien Mettomo managed to clear off the line after Ernst was beaten.

The Red Devils were only sporadically dangerous, most notably when Stefan Blank tried his luck from distance and hit the bar with Rensing flapping at the shot.

But the Germany Under-21 goalkeeper kept a clean sheet on a perfect day for the new Bundesliga champions, who can now focus their attentions on the DFB-Pokal final with Schalke as they chase yet more silverware.

[go!ua]

You`re Champions, guys. Congratulations!!! :rolling:

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, May 7, 2005

Mainz 2-4 Bayern Munich: FT Report

PA

MAINZ, May 7 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich may have won the Bundesliga title but the season most certainly isn't over for striker Roy Makaay who now has Nurnberg's Marek Mintal within his sights at the top of the scoring charts.

Seven days after grabbing goals 14, 15 and 16 of the season, the Dutchman took his tally to 19 with another hat-trick, accounting this time for Mainz at the Bruchweg Stadium in a 4-2 win for Bayern.

Makaay opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Benjamin Auer brought the home side level after 35 minutes.

Michael Ballack restored Bayern's advantage three minutes before the break, but Mainz refused to admit defeat and equalised again through Michael Thurk before Makaay made the difference with two further goals in the 83rd and 89th minute.

Bayern coach Felix Magath resisted the temptation to rest his key players with the DFB-Pokal final against Schalke in mind although Bastian Schweinsteiger was a surprise partner for Roy Makaay in attack with Claudio Pizarro, Roque Santa Cruz and Jose Paolo Guerrero all ruled out through injury.

Both Bayern strikers had early chances to score, but it was Makaay who showed his understudy the way to goal in the 17th minute.

Ballack took the ball to the goalline before pulling his pass back into the middle where the Dutchman was on hand to score his 17th goal of the season from close range.

Ballack then had the chance to double Bayern's advantage, but he had obviously picked up tips from the lesser of Munich's two strikers and took too long, allowing Mainz goalkeeper Christian Wetklo to clear.

Just as it looked increasingly like Bayern were going to extend their lead, the home side hit back with a goal from Germany under-21 international Auer.

The Mainz youngster has forged a productive partnership with Thurk recently and they combined again to grab an equaliser with Auer connecting with his strike-partner's cross to beat Michael Rensing.

But they could only remain level for seven minutes before Ballack put the champions back ahead after good work by Martin Demichelis who laid the ball on a plate for the Germany captain to fire home and give Bayern the interval lead.

Bayern were not allowed to sit on their lead, however, with Mainz thirsty for at least a point and their harrying paid dividends 15 minutes into the second half when Thurk brought Jurgen Klopp's side level once again.

The energetic attacker rose highest to head home a corner at the far post after Fabian Gerber had headed the ball on at the near post.

Makaay hit a hat-trick in Kaiserslautern last week and is now focused on winning the golden boot award with Nurnberg's Marek Mintal the target on 22 goals.

And the Dutchman moved a little closer to that target in the 83rd minute when he grabbed his second of the game to seal a win on the road for the 2005 Bundesliga champions.

Schweinsteiger was the provider on this occasion, but it was the Dutchman who once again showed his ice cool finishing capabilities to sweep the ball home from 15 yards out with only his second shot of the game.

He then sealed a second successive hat-trick in the 89th minute to move even closer to Mintal at the summit of the top-scorer list, although Mintal's goal in Nurnberg's 2-1 win over Bochum takes him to 23 for the season with Makaay now on 19.

This time, he struck a 10-yard shot high into the right-hand corner to complete another fine hat-trick.

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, May 14, 2005

Bayern Munich 6-3 Nurnberg: FT Report

PA

MUNICH, May 14 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich made it a perfect ending to 33 years at the Olympic Stadium with an easy win over Nurnberg which was followed by the presentation of their 19th Bundesliga title.

Vahid Hashemian, Robert Kovac, Alexander Zickler, Thomas Linke and Samuel Kuffour won't form part of Felix Magath's side next season and the first emotional goodbye of the afternoon was reserved for them before kick-off.

The home side demolished their guests inside 45 minutes.

Claudio Pizarro opened the scoring in the eighth minute and the floodgates opened with Michael Ballack grabbing the second in the 24th minute and further goals from Roy Makaay (31 and 41) and Sebastian Deisler (44) giving the home side a five-goal lead at half time.

Martin Demichelis' own-goal in the 52nd minute ensured the team from Nuremberg did go home with at least a goal before Deisler restored the five-goal lead in the 78th minute.

Samuel Slowak scored twice for Nurnberg in the 80th and 83rd minute, but the Bayern players were clearly already focused on the party that was about to begin as they lifted the Bundesliga crown to the joy of the 63,000 fans who witnessed the final ever fixture in Munich's Olympic Stadium with a mixture of tears of joy and sadness.

The home side didn't take too long getting into the rhythm that has led them to a 19th Bundesliga title this year with Pizarro grabbing his 11th goal of the season with some excellent link-up play with Makaay.

The Dutchman played a neat one-two with the Peruvian, who continued his run to the far post and was on hand to tap Makaay's return pass across the line.

Ballack then nodded home the second. Again, Makaay was the provider as he took a pass from Pizarro out wide and lofted a cross to the far post, leaving a simple header for Ballack.

There was nothing simple about the third goal, however, but Makaay doesn't need things to be easy, which is why it was hardly surprising when his 25-yard free-kick curled into the top left-hand corner of Raphael Schafer's goal for the Dutchman's 20th goal of the season.

That goal was Bayern's 2000th in the Olympic Stadium and the 2005 Bundesliga champions looked in the mood for plenty more.

Only half an hour had gone, but it was clear Schafer was in for a busy afternoon and Makaay's chances of catching Marek Mintal at the top of the goalscoring charts were increasing by the minute.

Referee Lutz-Michael Frohlich then did his bit to help the Dutchman to his target by pointing to the spot when Marek Nikl fouled Pizarro just inside the area.

With the Olympic Stadium on its feet, Makaay kept his nerve to slot home goal number 21 of the season.

Deisler ensured Bayern held a five-goal lead at the interval when he rounded Schafer in the 44th minute and calmly swept his shot into the empty net.

Demichelis went close to a sixth goal for Bayern early in the second half, but his header from Deisler's cross went inches wide of Schafer's far post, though he did have more luck at the other end just seconds later as he diverted Sven Muller's cross into his own goal.

One issue was still to resolved with Makaay now just two goals behind Mintal at the top of the goalscoring charts, but that could have been just one when he pulled the trigger from close range only to find the back of Pizarro's leg rather than the back of the net.

Deisler then completed the move of the game to give the Bayern fans something to celebrate in the second half.

Substitute Mehmet Scholl dribbled his way into the Nurnberg area before laying the ball back to Makaay who rather than shoot from a tight angle, lifted the ball to the far post where Pizarro was waiting to tap back delicately for Deisler, who fired in.

There was still time for Nurnberg substitute Samuel Slowak to grab a brace of goals within three minutes to add more respectability to the scoreline for Wolfgang Wolf's side.

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, May 21, 2005

VfB Stuttgart 1-3 Bayern Munich: FT Report

PA

STUTTGART, May 21 (Bundesliga) - Stuttgart missed out on a place in the Champions League due to a defeat to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium on Saturday.

The home side can only have themselves to blame for missing out on the riches of the Champions League after a recent collapse and the gulf between Felix Magath's current and former side was illustrated by the ruthless champions who ended the season by extending their winning streak to nine games.

Bayern were handed two goals inside the first 45 minutes by the Stuttgart defence.

Sebastian Deisler's free-kick led to Bayern's 27th minute opener although Michael Ballack claimed he had touched it before the ball went in.

The game was effectively over when stand-in striker Hasan Salihamidzic headed home the second three minutes later.

Roy Makaay claimed his 22nd goal of the season to beat his record of 21 last term in the 71st minute.

However, it was not enough for the Dutchman to top the goalscoring charts as Marek Mintal had moved onto 24 with a penalty in Nurnberg's game with Mainz.

Imre Szabics grabbed Stuttgart's consolation late on but it was not enough for the home side who will take their place in the UEFA Cup for a second successive season.

Matthias Sammer's side needed a win to secure their place in at least the qualifying stages of next season's Champions League and it was a bright opening for the home side with Cacau lively in attack.

Deisler celebrated his first full 90 minutes of 2005 with two goals against Nurnberg last weekend and he was instrumental in Bayern's opener.

His curled free-kick found the net although the goal was awarded to Ballack who claimed he had got his head to it although it was impossible to be sure.

There was nothing Stuttgart goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand could do about Bayern's second three minutes later either as Stuttgart's disorganised defence reared its ugly head once again.

Again, it was Deisler's set-piece prowess that created the chance for Ballack, who certainly made a connection this time to send the ball to the far post where Salihamidzic was on hand to head home from point-blank range.

Deisler was withdrawn shortly after with a slight injury and Magath, sensing the importance of next Saturday's cup final against Schalke, did not want to take any risks on the Germany international as he sent Mehmet Scholl into the fray.

Free-kick duty therefore shifted to Makaay and he was just inches away from his 22nd goal of the season shortly before the break when he tried his luck from just outside the penalty area.

Sammer reacted by sending on Marco Streller at half time to offer more support to Kevin Kuranyi and it was a much-improved, hungrier Stuttgart early in the second period.

However, the home side's domination was not to last long and the visitors soon regained the upper hand with a sequence of free-kicks which saw Makaay, Lucio and Ballack all have a shot at Hildebrand's goal.

Makaay then scored to keep the pressure on Nurnberg's Marek Mintal at the top of the goalscoring charts.

Schweinsteiger launched a long ball over the Stuttgart defence to Makaay, who had created room for himself just inside the area but chose instead to head the ball square to Scholl.

The 35-year-old midfielder had the whole of the goal to aim at but duped everybody around him to square the ball back to Makaay who completed the move of one-touch football by placing his shot comfortably into the unguarded net.

The Gottlieb-Daimler stadium began to empty as Stuttgart's disillusioned fans had already seen enough, but they missed a spirited revival late on with Martin Stranzl forcing a fine save out of Michael Rensing, who had replaced Oliver Kahn at the break.

Stranzl then set up Imre Szabics up for a consolation goal in the 87th minute.

[futbolpasion]

man bayern is a good team im glad they won not schalke

i guess im mad at schalke for beating inter in the uefa cup years ago :mad2:

[nachi88]

man bayern is a good team im glad they won not schalke

i guess im mad at schalke for beating inter in the uefa cup years ago :mad2:

that was a penalty win and totally deserved by schalke 04. Wilmots was terrefic in those two legs

[Lance Knight]

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Bayern clinch cup, fifth double


BERLIN, May 28 (Reuters) - German champions Bayern Munich completed their fifth domestic double on Saturday with a deserved 2-1 win over Schalke 04 in the German Cup final.
Bayern's winner was a simple 76th minute tap-in for substitute Hasan Salihamidzic but television replays showed the Bosnian midfielder was clearly offside when Roy Makaay fed him.


Dutch striker Makaay was goalscorer as well as provider in a game overshadowed by a number of debatable decisions.

He opened Bayern's account after 42 minutes when he pounced on a rebound after Ze Roberto hit the post, although he needed a second attempt after Marcelo Bordon blocked his first effort.

Schalke got their own slice of luck just three minutes later, however, when they equalised with a debatable penalty converted by Brazilian Lincoln on the stroke of halftime.

Bayern were also unlucky to have a first half strike from Claudio Pizarro ruled out for offside even though the Peruvian striker seemed to be in line with the last defender.

Bayern won the league title with 77 points from 34 matches ahead of runners-up Schalke who ended the campaign on 63 points

[nachi88]

Deserved dfb pokal for Bayern. the refreeing was toally biased, a clear penalty for hand ball not given in the first half. It cant get any more clearer than this. Makaay missed two very good chances in the first half, otherwise game would have been killed by then. But all things considered, a very good win.

[Lance Knight]

shit

Updated: Sep. 9, 2005, 12:00 PM UK
Bayern with striking problem for Bavarian derby

FRANKFURT, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's perfect Bundesliga record will be under threat on Saturday when they travel without Roy Makaay for a Bavarian derby against FC Nuremberg.

Bayern have had an easy time of it in the league so far this season, taking maximum points from three games to build a two-point lead at the top of the table.

Nuremberg are second to bottom with just a point but the absence of Makaay makes this a potential banana skin for the champions.

The Dutchman has scored six of Bayern's 11 goals so far in a blistering start to the season and to make matters worse Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz is also doubtful with a hamstring injury.

'I'm starting to think I may have to do without both of them,' said coach Felix Magath, who will also have to bear in mind his line-up for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Rapid Vienna.

The injuries mean the Peruvian Claudio Pizarro is likely to start as a lone striker, with Ze Roberto and Ali Karimi providing support from the wings. Pizarro has yet to find the net in the league this season.

Nuremberg have injury problems of their own, with Slovakia midfielder Marek Mintal likely to miss the game.

Mintal was the leading scorer in the Bundesliga this season but his impact has been less noticeable this term, with just one goal to his name.

Schalke 04 and Werder Bremen are the other two German sides who will have the Champions League on their minds this weekend.

Schalke, who slipped behind Bayern when they were held to a draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach in their last game, will welcome back playmaker Lincoln from suspension for their trip to face Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

'With Lincoln in the team we can beat anyone,' Schalke coach Ralf Rangnick said of the Brazilian, whose offer to play for Germany was recently turned down.

Werder Bremen host Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday but before they can prepare for that daunting task they must visit Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

Kaiserslautern, like Bremen, have won two of their three games this season, largely because of the outstanding form of Turkish striker Halil Altintop, the league's joint top scorer with six goals.

Bremen coach Thomas Schaaf should have Johan Micoud and Torsten Frings back from injury but goalkeeper Tim Wiese is still unavailable.

The other focus of the weekend will be on Cologne striker Lukas Podolski, who scored a hat-trick for Germany in their 4-2 win over South Africa in midweek.

Cologne have two wins from three on their return to the Bundesliga and will have every chance of maintaining their good start away to Borussia Dortmund, who have already lost their place in the Cup and are struggling in the league with two points from three games.

[nachi88]

Byaern continued their 100% record to the season. This time 2-1 away win against Nurmeberg. That too without Makaay.
http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/05472.php?fcb_sid=e2f616dc9decb88d1f2df85dd97b8104

This is a good note to start the champions league on. :star:

[Lance Knight]

up next we got a game against Hanover 96, any thoughts

[Lance Knight]

some serious shit here,lol

Karimi declared fit Ballack doubtful for Wolfsburg clash


29.09.2005 By far the most-asked question two days in advance of Bayern's Bundesliga meeting with VfL Wolfsburg was whether Michael Ballack would take to the training ground or not. The answer was visible out on the field of play. The Germany captain exited the professionals' quarters at 4 pm and joined his team-mates on the pitch. So, he is training, the gaggle of spectators and reporters thought. But a glance at the player's feet dampened the sense of relief, as Ballack was wearing running shoes.

The 29-year-old gently lapped the facility for some 30 minutes while the rest of the squad were put through their paces as normal. The bruised thigh which forced the midfielder off the field 10 minutes from time against Bruges on Tuesday was still causing him problems. However, he is expected to complete the squad session on Friday before a decision on his fitness to face the Wolves on Saturday.

Kahn in pain

As if the concern over Ballack was not enough, coach Felix Magath suffered another shock when Oliver Kahn broke off the session and reported to the medical unit with knee pain. Should the captain prove unable to play at the weekend, Magath will have only one fit keeper in the shape of veteran Bernd Dreher, as Michael Rensing remains out of action with a shoulder injury.

Both Ze Roberto and Martin Demichelis also sat out Thursday's session with minor knocks, but there was positive news as Ali Karimi returned from a three-day lay-off caused by a cold and came through the session unscathed.

Ten rated doubtful

The first truly intense phase of the campaign with seven matches in 21 days has left scars on the squad. Alongside the doubts over Ballack, Kahn, Ze Roberto and Demichelis, six players - Lizarazu, Pizarro, Hargreaves, Görlitz, Lahm and Rensing - are definitely out of the Wolves clash. The following week's break for internationals comes at the right time. "The pause will do our injured players good," Magath confirmed.

Bayern have one more game to negotiate first, and are determined to preserve their 100 percent record at the Allianz Arena as they go looking for a fifth home victory and a fifth clean sheet of the season. The Lower Saxony outfit have historically proved welcome visitors to Munich. Bayern have won the last three meetings without conceding, and the Wolves have never left Munich with all three points.

[Lance Knight]

Boss welcomes break.
Resilient Reds dig deep to tame Wolves

02.10.2005 Back in the summer, Felix Magath feared his side would "have to muddle through the first few weeks of the season," but with eight league games played and ahead of a two-week break for internationals, the Reds can look back on a highly successful start to the campaign. Despite a pre-season phase badly interrupted by the Confederations Cup, and an unusually large crop of injuries to key players, the champions have made their best start in seven years with seven victories and just one defeat.

Even before a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Wolfsburg on Saturday, the coach described the first few weeks of the season as "extremely successful," as the Bavarians cemented their position at the top of the standings. Nine stars were sidelined at the weekend, including influential personalities Oliver Kahn and Michael Ballack, adding to the credit heaped on the players left standing after the victory over the game Lower Saxony visitors.

Kahn: Three vital points

"Those can be the turning points in a season. You send out your last 10 fit players, and the goalkeeping coach ends up between the sticks," general manager Uli Hoeneß smiled after veteran Bernd Dreher made a first top flight appearance in four-and-a-half years as a last-minute stand-in for Kahn. No visiting side has yet scored at the Allianz Arena, as 38-year-old Dreher proceeded to keep a clean sheet with a flawless display.

"Very few clubs cope well with this kind of critical phase. Other clubs drop vital points. We don't have second-string players here, we only have like-for-like replacements. That's the class you see in our dressing room," knee injury victim Kahn declared. The points stayed in Munich thanks to Roque Santa Cruz' 66th minute header and a fabulous solo effort from the tireless Lucio in stoppage time. "You need players like him. He rolls up his sleeves and shows the way," Kahn commented admiringly.

Magath grateful for break

Magath described Saturday's match as "an absorbing 90 minutes. Our opponents contributed to the entertainment and made life difficult for us." The coach accepted his side had again hardly sparkled in victory. "We had problems linking the forwards with midfield. You can see we're not on top form, because we've lost our rhythm. We've had too many changes to our line-up."

The 52-year-old confessed to a certain relief when referee Markus Merk blew the final whistle on the match played out in front of another 66,000 home crowd. "Thankfully we've come through the 90 minutes with all three points," Magath remarked. "It's the first time I've actually been happy we're taking a break." Bayern travel to Schalke in two weeks' time, when the boss reckoned his side would be "in better shape."

Oktoberfest ahoy

Hoeneß agreed the 14-day break "comes at the right time." The 53-year-old praised the players for their resilience and morale: "You can see they're coming together as a unit," he commented. For his part, Magath rewarded the stars for seven games in 21 days with three-and-a-half days off. "They deserve it," he observed.

The only mandatory appointment for Kahn and company over the next few days was the traditional squad visit to the Oktoberfest on Sunday afternoon. "You need to get together in a completely different environment from time to time," Magath commented, as the party celebrated a hugely promising start to the campaign with foaming Bavarian ales.

[Lance Knight]

4-0 bitches, cant touch this

Bayern Munich 4-0 MSV Duisburg

MUNICH, October 22 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich propelled themselves to the top of the Bundesliga with a comprehensive victory over struggling Duisburg.

First-half goals from Michael Ballack and Ze Roberto, followed by second-half strikes from Roque Santa Cruz and Claudio Pizarro, ensured Bayern took the maximum three points.

The hosts' first chance of the game came in the fifth minute when defender Willy Sagnol found Ballack alone in front of Duisburg keeper Georg Koch, but he could not produce a shot on target.

Seven minutes later Duisburg put the pressure on as striker Peter van Houdt sent an effort on target from close range only for Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn to halt in in its tracks.

In the 20th minute it was Ballack, a target of Manchester United, who again looked dangerous on the counter-attack, this time with a long-range effort but Koch managed to punch the ball away from danger.

Just seven minutes later the opener arrived.

Ballack received the ball from striker Santa Cruz before heading home from just seven yards out, leaving Koch with no chance between the sticks.

The second came in the 33rd minute after Roy Makaay found Ze Roberto, who easily slotted home past Koch with his left-footed strike.

Four minutes after the break Bayern pushed for a third as Dutch international Makaay tried his luck but the ball fell wide of the post.

It took them just 10 minutes, though, to make it three.

Ali Karimi found Ze Roberto who then connected with Santa Cruz, who headed home from inside the box.

Duisburg, who are second from bottom in the standings, had no clear-cut chances in the second period as Bayern looked to make it four in the 78th minute with Makaay again mounting the pressure.

He found himself with possession alone in front of the goal but could not beat Koch.

The home side rounded-off their rout in the dying stages as Pizarro added the fourth in the 90th minute after Mehmet Scholl sent in a pass and Pizarro made no mistake as he fired home past the keeper from the right hand side of the area.

Bayern now have a two-point advantage over second-placed Werder Bremen, who drew 0-0 in Hannover

[Lance Knight]

Reds come from behind for narrow win

29.10.2005 The leaders collected all three points against struggling Cologne but made heavy weather of a lively encounter after missing a string of chances.

A boisterous 50,000 sell-out crowd at the superbly-appointed Rhine Energy stadium saw the Reds dominate the first twenty minutes but fall behind to Matthias Scherz's opportunistic strike on 28 minutes.

Lucio remedied the situation nine minutes after the restart as the champions emerged for the second period in purposeful mood, and Michael Ballack powered his side in front with a trademark header fifteen minutes from time.

The Reds survived a late Cologne onslaught to seal a narrow but not undeserved victory, and remain top of the Bundesliga pile on 28 points from eleven fixtures, two points clear of Werder Bremen and four ahead of Hamburg.

Reds at full strength

Felix Magath sent out what most observers regard as his current first-choice line-up, restoring a four-man rearguard after an experiment with three centre-backs in the midweek Cup tie.

Martin Demichelis returned from suspension to anchor the midfield, with Michael Ballack declared fit after coming through a fitness test on Friday.

The wide berths went to Zé Roberto and Sebastian Deisler, with Roque Santa Cruz again partnering Roy Makaay as the Dutch ace resumed his bid to end a 900-minute goalless drought.

It was one-way traffic in the opening exchanges as the champions' neat passing brought them a host of early chances.

Clinical finish from Scherz

A combination of desperate defence and former Bayern youth keeper Stefan Wessels somehow kept out efforts by Makaay and Deisler, before the shot-stopper raced from his line to deny the Netherlands hitman and Lucio saw his 16th minute header cleared off the line.

That was the signal for the home side to shake off their initial lethargy, and Matthias Scherz warmed Oliver Kahn's gloves with a burst and shot to herald an evenly-balanced phase of the match.

The visitors were left to rue their early misses when Germany U-21 star Marvin Matip's 28th minute pass split the Bayern defence and found Scherz in space, the Cologne striker advancing down the inside right channel before confidently driving across Kahn for the opener.

Schweinsteiger had to be alert at the back stick as the home side sought to press home their advantage, but the remainder of the half was a scrappy affair and the Reds went in at the break in the unaccustomed position of lying a goal behind.

Magath reacted by replacing the subdued Santa Cruz with Claudio Pizarro, and Valerien Ismael headed onto the top of the net six minutes after the restart as the Reds went in search of the equaliser.

Bayern battle back

That so nearly came a minute later as Wessels superbly beat out Sagnol's stinging drive, the ball cannoning back into play off the upright as Ismael thrust out a leg in the ensuing scramble.

But Munich had the bit between their teeth now and Lucio crowned a bustling display by levelling the scores on 54 minutes, blasting home from an unmarked position at the back post after Schweinsteiger's flighted free-kick took a nick off a Cologne head.

The quality of the fare improved as both sides went looking for a potentially decisive second. Pizarro drove across the face on 65 minutes, before Mehmet Scholl replaced Schweinsteiger two minutes later.

The veteran had an indirect hand in the champions taking the lead, initiating the build up to Deisler's 75th minute corner from which Ballack rose to head powerfully past Wessels and edge his side in front.

Pulsating climax

It was end-to-end stuff as Cologne staged a stirring late rally, but Bayern survived the biggest scare on 84 minutes when sub Patrick Helmes was rightly penalised for diving after rounding Kahn one-on-one, only to lose control of the ball and hurl himself theatrically to the turf.

Referee Mr Wagner was spot on with that decision, but even diehard Reds accepted they had enjoyed the rub of the green when the match official elected not to penalise Lucio for what looked suspiciously like handball in the area three minutes from time.

Kahn had pulled off a stunning reaction save to keep out former Aston Villa defender Alpay's goalbound header just a few minutes earlier as Bayern clung to their slim lead until the finish for a deserved if at times perilously close victory.




Cologne - Bayern Munich 1-2 (H-T: 1-0)

Cologne: Wessels - Alpay, Schlicke, Sinkiewicz - Lell, Matip (80 Grammozis), Rahn (80 Benschneider) - Streit, Mokthari - Scherz (68 Helmes), Podolski
Bayern Munich: Kahn - Sagnol, Lucio, Ismael, Schweinsteiger (67 Scholl) - Deisler (77 Ottl), Ballack, Demichelis, Zé Roberto - Makaay, Santa Cruz (46 Pizarro)
Substitutes: Dreher, Jeremies, Karimi, Guerrero
Referee: Mr Wagner (Hofheim)
Spectators: 50,000 (capacity)
Goals: 1-0 Scherz (28), 1-1 Lucio (55), 1-2 Ballack (74)
Yellow Cards: Streit, Lell, Helmes / Zé Roberto, Sagnol, Deisler, Schweinsteiger

[Lance Knight]

Munich 2-1 MainzPA
MUNICH, November 26 (Bundesliga) - A double strike from Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro ensured the league leaders saw off visitors Mainz and extended their Bundesliga lead to six points.

The victory was far from straightforward as a stubborn Mainz outfit cancelled out Pizarro's opener with Benjamin Auer's strike and came agonisingly close to taking a share of the points as a number of second half chances went begging.

Pizarro kept the visiting defenders busy throughout and the Peruvian looked certain to give his side the lead when Roy Makaay put him clean through against Mainz goalkeeper Dimo Wache, but his shot was well saved by the custodian.

The striker made amends shortly before the half hour mark, as Bastian Schweinsteiger found Makaay on the Bayern left.

The Dutchman picked out Pizarro who fired home from six meters, giving Wache no chance.

The lead lasted just six minutes, as Mainz broke and Petr Ruman created space for Auer, who slammed in a shot from close range to level the contest.

In the second half, parity was short-lived, as Pizarro completed a brace and clinched the win with a superb header into the top corner of Wache's goal, after Schweinsteiger had provided him with a perfect cross.

Undeterred, Mainz pressed hard for a second equaliser and should have tied up a point when Auer drilled in a shot that Oliver Kahn could only parry, only for Michael Thurk to blaze over with the goal at his mercy in the final minute.

[Lance Knight]

VfB Stuttgart 0-0 Bayern MunichPA

STUTTGART, December 3 (Bundesliga) - Stuttgart held Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to a goalless draw at the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadium on Saturday.

On the return of Michael Ballack to the Bayern first team after injury, it was another midfielder who made the headlines.

Sebastian Deisler was shown a red card three minutes before the interval for violent conduct after a clash with Ludovic Magnin in an ill-tempered game.

Neither side created many openings and 10-man Bayern held on for a draw which, with Hamburg beating Cologne, sees their lead at the Bundesliga cut to four points .

The 10th draw of the season for the home side means coach Giovanni Trapattoni will now fail to fulfil his latest ultimatum.

The Italian coach was set a target of 10 points from the final five Bundesliga fixtures of the year, but three consecutive draws means he can now only make eight.

But the performance of his side against the defending champions should have done enough to convince the Stuttgart board to stick with him.

Stuttgart strikers Jon Dahl Tomasson and Danijel Ljuboja both had chances in the first half, but a block from Valerien Ismael and save from Oliver Kahn ensured neither went in.

Michael Ballack almost marked his return after almost four weeks out injured with a goal in the 27th minute, but Stuttgart goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand was equal to his long-distance effort.

As the sides were preparing to go into the interval all-square, Deisler lost his temper and earned a head start on his team mates into the dressing room.

The Germany international became entangled with Magnin and reacted by lashing out with his leg at the Swiss midfielder, leaving referee Markus Merk no other choice but to brandish a red card.

Both sides created several small chances in the second half with Zvonimir Soldo coming close on two occasions for the home side and Hargreaves trying his luck from distance.

But the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock was in the very last minute, when Claudio Pizarro almost stole the points for Bayern.

The Peruvian striker, who earned Bayern a 2-1 win over Bielefeld on their last trip away with an injury-time strike, almost emulated that feat with a shot from distance.

Hildebrand was happy to see the shot miss his post by a matter of centimetres, however.

[Lance Knight]

shaky win for bayern as they add another 3 points to the total

Borussia Dortmund 1-2 Bayern MunichPA

DORTMUND, December 17 (Bundesliga) - Bayern Munich made it 14 wins out of 17 Bundesliga games to end 2005 on a high with a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.

An injury-depleted home side looked more than a match for their table-topping guests in the first half, but a goal from Ali Karimi seven minutes into the second half put pay to their spirited efforts.

A second goal from Claudio Pizarro 20 minutes later was enough to extend Bayern's lead at the top of the Bundesliga to seven points going into the winter break, despite Florian Kringe's late consolation.

Dortmund finished the game with 10 men after substitute Kosi Saka was sent off for fouling Roy Makaay, who was clear through on goal.

The first half belonged to the home side, who looked to defy the 20 points separating the two sides in the table with some determined play in midfield.

But it was the visitors who had the first real chance of the game when central defender Lucio played a neat one-two with Claudio Pizarro only to place his shot wide of the far post.

Dortmund coach Bert van Marwijk had handed a debut to 19-year-old Uwe Hunemeier in defence and he almost capped his debut with a goal shortly before the break.

Hunemeier beat Oliver Kahn to a corner and his header was heading inside the far post until Owen Hargreaves headed the ball onto the crossbar.

The ball bounced up off the line and away, touching the England midfielder's arm.

Neither Dortmund's appeals for a goal nor a penalty were heard by referee Herbert Fandel, who waved play on.

Kringe also hit the post before the sides went into the break level.

Only seven minutes had been played in the second half when Ali Karimi put Bayern ahead.

Andreas Ottl, a first-half substitute for the injured Martin Demichelis, passed the ball forward and Claudio Pizarro's backheel found Karimi up against Hunemeier and Kringe.

Hunemeier was tied in knots as Karimi first went one way, and then the other before placing his shot low into the bottom corner from 16 yards out.

Ze Roberto, who had been having a quiet game, set up Claudio Pizarro for the second in the 73rd minute as Bayern secured the points.

Pizarro scored his seventh goal of the season after Ze Roberto beat Philipp Degen and played a neat ball into the six-yard box for the Peruvian to slide in on the turn.

Kringe reduced the arrears in the 79th minute with a header before Saka was sent off for a professional foul on Roy Makaay just five minutes after coming on as a substitute

[nachi88]

Bayerns run of form continues

Poor performance, but we managed to win in the end. I was able to see only the first half , as I had to go finish some work. Later my friends told me I hadnt missed much, it wasnt an intresting game. Did any one see the whole game?
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Bayern made heavy weather of resolute Bayer but a Michael Ballack strike and an Olli Kahn save saw the leaders extend their perfect home record.

A capacity increase at the Allianz Arena meant a new record full house of 69,000 saw the home heroes slowly but surely gain the upper hand against the stubborn Rhineland visitors, culminating in Ballack's neatly-taken opener ten minutes from the interval.

The sides cancelled each other out for long periods in an untidy second period, although Roy Makaay was desperately unlucky not to double the advantage with a shot off the upright 15 minutes from time.

Kahn to the rescue

Bayern almost paid for not adding a second when Andrey Voronin capitalised on the Reds' solitary defensive uncertainty of the game at the death, but Kahn stood up bravely to rescue his side's perfect home record, now up to 14 wins from 14 competitive fixtures.

With second-placed Bremen beating Mainz 4-2 and Hamburg defeating Bielefeld 2-1, the situation at the top of the standings remains unchanged with Bayern on 50 points from 19 games, eight clear of Werder and nine of HSV.

Hasan Salihamidzic' dashing substitute appearance in the restart match against Monchengladbach earned him a place on the left of midfield at Bastian Schweinsteiger's expense, but Felix Magath otherwise stuck with the line-up which performed so convincingly against Borussia last week.

Schneider against the bar

The leaders needed time to settle against the blue-clad visitors' five-man rearguard, marshalled by Germany veteran Carsten Ramelow in an old-fashioned sweeper role.

Leverkusen were not entirely without ambition either, as experienced midfielder Bernd Schneider landed a 27th minute header on top of the bar before firing in a free-kick, a comfortable enough take for Oliver Kahn.

Ballack had put a header wide from the lively Willy Sagnol's cross, but the first truly clear-cut chance fell to Bayer when Ukraine inside-right Andrey Voronin broke clear of Valerien Ismael and swung over a centre, only for Swiss starlet Tranquillo Barnetta and Bulgaria hitman Dimitar Berbatov to squander clear sights at goal.

Ballack heads home

That was the signal for Bayern to translate possession into pressure, and the reward came on 36 minutes when Ballack expertly controlled Sagnol's swerving diagonal ball before crashing home the opener past Bayer custodian Hans-Jörg Butt.

The Reds still had a scare to survive before half-time, but Bixente Lizarazu was perfectly positioned on the line to block Schneider's volley after a corner.

The sides returned unchanged for the second period but the first phase of play was scrappy and the niggle quota increased, prompting ref Babak Rafati to brandish three yellow cards in quick succession.

Game of few chances

Magath opted for Schweinsteiger's fresh legs in place of Salihamidzic on the hour, but a Claudio Pizarro effort aside, the teams found creating chances a near-impossibility for a long stretch.

That spell came to an end with a quarter-hour remaining when Schweinsteiger fed Ze and the Brazilian teed up Makaay, but the Dutch striker's shot across Butt agonisingly rebounded from the far post.

The keeper then reacted smartly to deny the same player as Leverkusen pushed on and started leaving gaps, and Butt pulled out all the stops to prevent Schweinsteiger wrapping up the points eight minutes from time.

But Bayer were not finished and it took all Kahn's considerable experience to prevent Voronin grabbing an equaliser with two minutes remaining as the leaders clung on for a somewhat fortunate three points.

[cris_cris15]

my favorite german player is Michael Ballack, i love Michael very very much...
he is all my life, and meeting with ballack is my dream
http://www.best-ranks.com/Michael_Ballack.htm