Bayern 3 Nürnberg 0
Credit: FC Bayern Munich (http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de)
Ribery returns, Gomez brace seals routine win
Two-goal Mario Gomez ensured Bayern claimed the bragging rights in Bavaria with an ultimately routine win over Nürnberg on Sunday, a result which means Munich leapfrog their neighbours and improve to sixth spot in the Bundesliga standings.
The 69,000 capacity crowd at the Allianz Arena saw Gomez hand the double winners an early lead, but although FCB controlled the play through to half-time, chances proved hard to come by. Philipp Lahm marked his 150th appearance for Bayern with a coolly converted penalty before the hour, and sub Franck Ribery celebrated his return from a seven-week lay-off with the corner from which Gomez wrapped up the points 15 minutes from time. The striker could easily have had another hat-trick, but allowed himself the luxury of putting a second penalty into the crowd before the end.
The fully merited win takes the champions up to sixth on 19 points from 12 matches, still 12 points off leaders Dortmund, but only five behind second-placed Bayer Leverkusen – and the Bavarians’ next league appointment is at the BayArena on Saturday 20 November.
Louis van Gaal fielded an unchanged line-up for the third match in succession, with Andi Ottl retaining his place alongside Anatoliy Tymoshchuk in central defensive midfield, and Bastian Schweinsteiger linking the play ahead of them.
The real selection news was the composition of the subs’ bench, where FCB have been down to as little as four men recently. But on this occasion, fit-again fivesome Mark van Bommel, Diego Contento, David Alaba, Breno and Ribery took their seats alongside Thomas Müller and reserve keeper Thomas Kraft.
Once referee Thorsten Kinhöfer whistled play underway on a pleasantly mild evening in Munich, Bayern eased swiftly into gear and pinned their Franconian neighbours back into their own half of the field, Toni Kroos and Danijel Pranjic fashioning all kinds of bother for Juri Judt on the right side of the FCN defence.
The opening goal on ten minutes came from a slick attack down that flank, Kroos skilfully playing in Pranjic behind the Nürnberg full-back, and the Croatia international timing his cross to perfection for Gomez to stab home at the far stick. Pranjic, a revelation as a provider of late, almost laid on the second for Martin Demichelis from a free-kick, but the Argentina stopper directed a free header wide of the target.
Nürnberg visibly settled midway through the half, but FCB looked comfortable at the back, with Daniel van Buyten, Demichelis and Tymoshchuk stamping their authority on the defensive third. At the other end, Per Nilsson was forced into a desperate clearance after Judt’s error let in Pranjic, and Kroos whistled a shot just past the upright after cutting inside onto his favoured right foot, before Jens Hegeler put the visitors’ first chance over the bar with fully 37 minutes played.
FCN keeper Raphael Schäfer beat out a rasping Kroos drive and got down smartly to a Hamit Altintop free-kick, but there was to be no further breakthrough prior to half-time. Breno took over from Demichelis for the second period, and was soon in the thick of the action, clearing up the loose ball after a Mehmet Eckici free-kick into the danger zone. The visitors enjoyed a decent spell now, but Julian Schieber skied one chance over the bar and smacked a second straight at Jörg Butt.
Müller replaced Altintop on 56 minutes, and the champions were two up just a minute later after Schäfer felled Gomez in the box as the striker hared onto a terrific Pranjic pass. The keeper was booked, and – in the full knowledge that Bayern have missed four of their last six penalties – captain Lahm took the responsibility with a clinical conversion from the spot.
Javier Pinola and Eckici came close from long range as Nürnberg sought a way back, but the biggest cheer of the afternoon came with 20 minutes left, as Ribery returned from a seven-week lay-off in place of Kroos. The France star immediately showed what FCB have been missing of late with lovely feet and a dink into the six-yard box, but Schäfer reacted superbly to deny Müller, and did the same again just a couple of minutes later.
The misses were of no consequence after 75 minutes when Gomez stooped to head his seventh of the season direct from Ribery’s corner, banishing any lingering doubts as to the outcome. Schweinsteiger shot wide with only Schäfer to beat as the champions threatened to run riot, but Gomez blasted a second penalty into the proverbial Row Z after Pinola chopped down Müller two minutes from time, and FCB contented themselves with three goals.
Credit: FC Bayern Munich (http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de)
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