Matchreport Bayern

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1240 votes: 2

25.10.2006

An Andreas Ottl header saw Bayern make the third round of the German Cup without ever shifting out of first gear against courageous but limited opponents.

There were empty seats for a meaningful Bayern fixture at the Allianz Arena for the first time, and the 51,000 who turned out on a mild night were offered only an average reward for their loyalty as Bayern dominated possession but struggled to create openings against their disciplined opponents.

Young midfielder Ottl, whose debut Bundesliga goal came when the sides last met in the league, broke the deadlock five minutes after the restart to set the Reds on their way, and the holders ultimately settled for doing enough to shore up the win on a night when decent chances were at a premium.

Micho for Lucio

As expected, Felix Magath made just one enforced change to the side which began in Bremen at the weekend, Martin Demichelis deputising for ankle ligament victim Lucio, who would have missed the match with suspension in any case.

Lautern boss Wolfgang Wolf made no fewer than five changes to the side which beat TSV 1860 Munich on the same ground last Sunday, and the second division outfit looked suitably disjointed as the Cup holders opened brightly.

However, visiting keeper Florian Fromlowitz spread himself to deny Roy Makaay and Lukas Podolski flashed a header wide as the early storm blew itself out.

Tough going

The Red Devils visibly grew in confidence and defended with increasing discipline, the home side lacking the spark to prise open a back four expertly marshalled by skipper Mathieu Béda.

The visitors even launched a series of dangerous raids on the rare occasions they won control of possession, but Axel Bellinghausen's shooting twice let him down and Austria veteran Stephan Lexa blazed wide of the upright.

Andi's match-winner

A couple of speculative Makaay efforts were not enough to stave off a chorus of boos when the players went off for the interval, but the jeers turned to cheers in the 50th minute when Ottl firmly headed home Demichelis' flick-on from Makaay's inswinging corner.

The Bavarians were now out of trouble for a lengthy spell, but it was a day when the chances proved reluctant to go in as Makaay, van Bommel, Schweinsteiger and sub Julio dos Santos all came close, although the subdued Podolski squandered the best of the lot from Dos Santos' delightful chip.

Matters briefly hotted up again as the courageous visitors staged a last desperate rally, but Germany U-21 international Fabian Schönheim thumped Lautern's last chance over the bar and the holders completed the win.

Live match report for fcbayern.de by Chris Hamley

tracylynn

Empty seats? Wow!! I think the team's performance of lately is starting to have an affect on them.

MUTU

Well, it's the first time it happened. Maybe it's a bit too early to start hinting at a crisis Smile