Match Report Hannover

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1321 votes: 2

08.11.2006

Bayern have lost ground in the title race after a dismal display duly ended in a shock home defeat to struggling Hanover on Wednesday.

A 68,000 crowd, the first below-capacity attendance for a Bundesliga fixture at the Allianz Arena, saw Bayern control possession but struggle in all other respects against disciplined and resourceful opponents

The visitors cleverly drew the listless champions' sting, before Hungary schemer Szabolcs Huszti struck a shock opener on the break with the interval looming.

Bayern threw off their lethargy for a spell in the second period but found visiting keeper Robert Enke in fine form, and the lack of passion with which the home side went about attempting to salvage at least a point will give coach Felix Magath plenty to think about in the coming days.

Hanover's first win in Munich at the 18th time of asking, combined with results from around the country, mean Bayern slide to fifth in the table, six points off leaders Werder Bremen after 11 matches.

Ali for Roque

Bayern showed two changes to the side which drew 2-2 in Schalke on Sunday, Hasan Salihamidzic deputising at right-back for knee injury victim Willy Sagnol, with Ali Karimi a surprise choice to supply the impulse Roque Santa Cruz had been unable to deliver in recent games.

The latter change was both positional and tactical, as it meant boss Felix Magath formally reverting to a 4-4-2 formation with Karimi in a forward midfield role behind strikers Roy Makaay and Claudio Pizarro.

The Iran star started well enough with some typically busy prompting, but a collective lethargy soon descended on the Reds, and a couple of Daniel van Buyten shots were all they had to show from the first half hour.

Daniel denied

Visiting keeper Robert Enke saved well from Makaay's dart inside and shot, and made an even better reaction stop to deny van Buyten as the double winners finally threatened to shake off the Hanover stranglehold.

But the bottom club always looked comfortable on the ball, and Huszti's side-footed opener after Czech international Jiri Stajner had robbed a ponderous Martin Demichelis at the by-line on 43 minutes, was by no means undeserved at that point.

The Bavarians emerged for the restart with an understandable sense of urgency, and even if the play remained disjointed, the shots at least began to rain in on Enke's goal.

Enke on form

The keeper spread himself bravely to deny Makaay, but could have done nothing had volleys from the Dutchman and Claudio Pizarro whistled the right side of the upright rather than drifting narrowly wide.

Enke was already beaten when Bastian Schweinsteiger nodded the otherwise uninfluential Mark van Bommel's cross just past the post, and Huszti hoofed van Buyten's looping effort off the line, but Magath's desperation was obvious when he withdrew Karimi and Makaay in favour of fit-again veteran Mehmet Scholl and Santa Cruz with 20 minutes remaining.

With the visitors now solely focused on defending, beanpole reserve Stefan Maierhofer appeared for the redundant Philipp Lahm in a last throw of the dice, but it was to no avail and Bayern were condemned to only their second-ever Bundesliga defeat at the Allianz Arena.

Live match report for fcbayern.de by Chris Hamley