BayernForum.com

11.02.2007

Roy Makaay's early strike handed Bayern a first win since the winter break as the Reds showed flashes of their old assurance against toothless Bielefeld.

A 69,000 full house at the Allianz Arena to witness Ottmar Hitzfeld's first home game back in charge erupted as early as the eighth minute when Makaay raced clear onto Lucio's long punt to hand his side a perfect start.

The champions controlled the play for long periods after that, although clear-cut chances remained thin on the ground as the Reds concentrated on organisation and tactical discipline.

<b>Dour second period</b>

The home defence never looked in trouble against struggling Arminia's ineffectual attacking efforts, although much of the sparkle went out of Munich's play after half-time as the prize of three vital points drew nearer and nearer.

The welcome return to winning ways sees Bayern consolidate their grip on fourth place with 37 points from 21 matches, four off VfB Stuttgart in third and five behind second-placed Werder Bremen, although leaders Schalke remain a daunting 11 points clear at the top.

<b>General makes four changes</b>

The first home starting line-up of Ottmar Hitzfeld's second spell in charge saw four changes to the side beaten 3-0 in Nuremberg. Three were enforced, with Willy Sagnol (injury), Owen Hargreaves (illness) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (suspension) all ruled out.

Hasan Salihamidzic filled in as a makeshift right-back behind a reshaped midfield, featuring Ali Karimi in the hole with Mark van Bommel, Andreas Ottl and Martin Demichelis fanned out across the centre of the park.

Up front, Lukas Podolski was rewarded for knuckling down in training with a rare start at Claudio Pizarro's expense.

<b>More like Bayern of old</b>

The first chance of the match saw Sibusiso Zuma drift a cross-cum-shot just wide of the back stick, but a sporadic foray or two from the South African apart, that was it for Arminia as an attacking force in the first period.

By contrast, the assurance in possession and bite in the tackle which Bayern have been missing of late returned in abundance as the Reds doggedly set about regaining the home crowd's favour.

The faithful were on their feet after just eight minutes when Makaay accelerated away from Heiko Westermann in pursuit of Lucio's towering clearance, before rounding Bielefeld keeper Mathias Hain and slotting home from a tight angle.

<b>Reds denied valid second</b>

The Reds should have doubled their advantage just three minutes later, but referee Babak Rafati and his assistant incorrectly ruled out Van Bommel's close-range finish for offside after a slick move instigated by Karimi.

Bayern continued to hold the upper hand, although chances were few and far between as the sides opted for caution. Podolski fired into the side-netting midway through the half, before the striker combined with Philipp Lahm to create a chance on the volley for Makaay.

The second half opened with a clutch of openings for the home side, but Salihamidzic blasted wide after a decent passing move, Podolski steered a header over Hain's crossbar, and Makaay failed to get full purchase on a low drive.

<b>Görlitz' emotional return</b>

The Dutch goal-getter made way for Pizarro on the hour, before Ottl limped off and the crowd rose to give Andreas Görlitz a rousing welcome on his return to the top flight after two-and-a-half years out with injury.

With twenty minutes remaining, Lucio brought a quiet phase to an end with a sliding effort against the outside of the post and Podolski hammered a free-kick over the bar.

Ioannis Masmanidis cleared Daniel van Buyten's header off the line and the Arminia man blasted over in a late flurry of activity,

<i>Live match report for <b>fcbayern.de</b> by Chris Hamley</i>

FCBayernNews wrote:The Dutch goal-getter made way for Pizarro on the hour, before Ottl limped off and the crowd rose to give Andreas Görlitz a rousing welcome on his return to the top flight after two-and-a-half years out with injury.

Welcome back Görlitz!