GreenBkk FCB | CFR Cluj 0 Bayern 4

CFR Cluj 0 Bayern 4

Three for Gomez as Bayern cruise through

Super Mario Gomez fired a hat-trick as Bayern’s makeshift side produced a performance of tremendous authority and tactical diligence on Wednesday night, comfortably seeing off Romanian double winners CFR Cluj and sealing a place in the Champions League first knockout round. A fourth win in four matches also represents the Bavarians’ best-ever start to a campaign in Europe’s elite club competition.

The display, arguably Munich’s best of a challenging season so far, was all the more remarkable for the absence of eight senior players due to injury, although the current streak of five wins in six undefeated games speaks volumes for the depth and quality in the FCB squad at present.

The first half at Dr. Constantin Radulescu stadium was one to warm the hearts and frozen limbs of the 1,350 Bayern faithful among the 14,100 crowd, as last season’s finalists took the game to the home side and deservedly led at the break through Gomez’ poacher’s brace.

The Romanians came out fighting for the second half, but the visitors weathered the storm and Gomez applied the coup de grace with 20 minutes to go, completing a hat-trick to delight 65th birthday boy Gerd Müller, watching the game at home in Munich. The legendary goal-getter’s namesake Thomas added a last-minute fourth to round off an accomplished team display.

The ultimately routine victory means the Bavarians are safely through to the last sixteen after collecting the maximum 12 points from their first four fixtures. A point away to Roma on 23 November will wrap up top spot in the group, but Louis van Gaal’s men now turn their attention to the domestic league and Saturday’s trip to struggling Borussia Monchengladbach.

With the likes of Robben, Ribery, Van Bommel, Klose and Olic all still missing, Bayern showed one change to the team which beat Freiburg last Friday. Van Gaal chose to rest Müller, an ever-present so far this term, and handed his place on the team-sheet to fit-again Daniel van Buyten, who lined up alongside Martin Demichelis at centre-back.

That meant Anatoliy Tymoshchuk partnering Andi Ottl in his favoured midfield holding role, with Bastian Schweinsteiger pushed forward into the hole behind lone striker Gomez, flanked by Toni Kroos and Hamit Altintop. A subs’ bench of just four men underscored the shortage of options at the present time.

For the home side, Cluj boss Sorin Cartu also opted for a change compared to the team beaten 3-2 in Munich a fortnight ago, Tomas Costa replacing Dominique Kivuvu in midfield.

Once Belgian referee Serge Gumienny whistled play underway on a bitterly cold evening in Transylvania, Bayern soon had the travelling support on their feet with a composed opening spell and two rapier thrusts in the first 25 minutes.

With 12 minutes played, Schweinsteiger pounced on some sloppy defensive work by the home side and fed Ottl, lurking to the left of the penalty spot. Keeper Eduard Stancioiu parried the Munich youth product’s shot, but Gomez was on hand to smack the ball mercilessly into the roof of the net.

The visitors kept up the pressure and doubled their lead on 24 minutes. Fully 20 passes had been exchanged before Tymoshchuk found Altintop on the right. Schweinsteiger headed the Turkey international’s cross into the path of Gomez, who rattled home his and his team’s second.

Jörg Butt was finally called into action shortly afterwards, expertly saving at the feet of Roberto de Zerbi, but it was otherwise all Bayern for the rest of the first half, as Van Gaal’s men bossed the play with their composed passing and movement.

There were no further goals before the interval, as Gomez was twice denied by Stancioiu, Ottl fizzed a couple of long-range efforts wide of the target, and Altintop fired straight at the keeper, but there was a minor irritation for Munich, as Schweinsteiger picked up his third booking of the competition and now misses the trip to Rome on Matchday 5.

The home side had seemed resigned to their fate before the break, but emerged in determined mood after the restart and came within a whisker of pulling one back in a whirlwind 15-minute spell. Van Buyten cleared off the line from de Zerbi after a scramble in the box, Butt made a fine reaction save to deny Argentine schemer Juan Culio, and Felice Piccolo crashed a header against the far post with the FCB shot-stopper beaten.

Stancioiu spectacularly tipped Ottl’s piledriver round the post as the Romanian storm blew itself out, and although Ionut Rada drew another good save from Butt, chances began opening up for FCB on the break. From one controlled counter-attack on 71 minutes, Schweinsteiger sliced open the defence with a disguised reverse pass and Gomez applied the finish to complete his hat-trick and banish any lingering doubts as to the outcome.

Tymoshchuk, late sub Müller and Ottl all tested Stancioiu as Romanian heads went down and the match meandered towards the finish, the Cluj keeper producing another good save late on to prevent Müller T following further in the footsteps of the legendary Müller G. But Thomas Müller was not to be denied, bundling home Altintop’s flick over a defence in disarray to add a last-minute fourth and round off a comprehensive win.

Credit: FC Bayern Munich