Bayern squeezes out tough victory with great defense

By: Porter | November 10th, 2008

As expected Bayern’s visit to Veltins-Arena was a tough match and although Schalke controlled possession of the ball throughout the majority of it, they fell short losing 2-1.

Incredibly with such focus on defending, Bayern scored only three minutes after the start as Luca Toni and Mark van Bommel played a simple 1-2, resulting in the Azzurri capped sharpshooter knocking in the ball from close-in range. Before you could catch your breath the match was level two minutes later as Rafinha dealt a pass to Jefferson Farfán, who struck from a tight range. With only two goals in five minutes it was hard to see where the score was going to end and it of-course made you wonder where the tough defensive game plan went. The match settled down, almost with Farfán’s equalizing goal as a “re-start” and Schalke began to employ a tough tackling defensive plan. The home side had a few respectable opportunities but in a cardinal-sin, they left themselves open to a counter-attack at the thirty-first minute, allowing Bayern to score the go-ahead goal as Zé Roberto passed back to Franck Ribéry in point-blank range for what would turn out to the winning strike.

For the balance of the match, Schalke controlled most of the play but could not develop enough close range attempts. Bayern played perfect championship quality defense, slowed the pace and didn’t allow Schalke to advance without challenge. Jürgen Klinsmann’s side definitely nullified Schalke’s attack and will be pleased with their defending on set pieces as well. Hopefully Ribéry will recover for the horrible injury he sustained from the phantom strike that unfortunately was so lightning quick it couldn’t be seen on camera. Jermaine Jones did an admirable role in marking Franck Ribéry but that call was ridiculous and although many do, great players like Ribéry shouldn’t be flopping all over the pitch like that.

After the match Der Kaiser’s said: “Obviously it’s a deserved victory, although it was fortunate as well today. Both goals came from superb moves, it was wonderful to watch, but we didn’t invest enough after that. Schalke were the busier side in both halves, but they simply failed to score. If they’d made more of their corners and set-pieces, they might have taken more from the game.”

Fred Rutten summarized the match simply: “Today the more efficient team won. We were lacking there and our set pieces weren’t that good either,” adding “We played good football in the first half and created chances, but Bayern were superbly efficient. We weren’t, and you don’t win matches if you don’t score goals.”

It was a very disappointing loss for Schalke and the loss of Orlando Engelaar certainly had an impact in one of the toughest matches of the season. It might be a forgotten moment but when players lose discipline on the pitch as he did, it has a impact and his absence in the match definitely was an issue. The chief weaknesses in Schalke’s play was being unable to counter Bayern’s picture perfect defensive play and the midfield being unable to supply quality scoring chances and take the match to the Bayern.