Bayern finish top, as Basel slip into Europa League
FC Basel had to settle for a Europa League spot after they were convincingly beaten three nil by Bayern Munich on Wednesday. The Swiss side went into the game with an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout stage, but was blown away by the hosts.
Bayern’s goalkeeper Thomas Kraft made three crucial saves, before Franck Ribery fired the hosts ahead with a 35th minute strike. Anatoliy Tymoschuk doubled their lead in the very next minute, before Ribery scored Bayern’s third early in the second half leaving
Basel’s qualification hopes hanging in the balance. Basel had to win this match to have any hope of beating Roma to second spot in the group, but were instead looking at a spot in the Europa League.
Basel started brightly when Alexander Frei’s fired in a low cross to Xherdan Shaqiri in the ninth minute, but Thomas Kraft managed to save. Bayern’s Toni Kroos then dragged a curling long-range shot wide in the 16th minute, and moments later Mark Bommel’s
right footed effort only just cleared Franco Costanzo’s crossbar. Kraft pulled off a flurry of saves during the game to keep his side in the game.
Diego Contento somehow kept in a Tony Kroos pass in the 35th minute, before cutting the ball back for Ribery, who smashed it into the net. Two minutes later Mario Gomez headed the ball towards the net, and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk was there to help it in. The
two quick strikes knocked the wind out of Basel’s sails. Kroos and Ribery tried to increase their lead Schweinsteiger made an effort but saved by Costanzo.
As the game wore on and Basel started chasing the ball, they left behind gaps, which Frank Ribery ably took advantage of. The Frenchman latched onto a through ball from Thomas Muller, and his beat the Basel goalkeeper with a low shot into the bottom corner.
Costanzo prevented his side from falling further behind, and made an incredible double save from Contento and then Bastian Schweinsteiger at point-blank range. Alexander Frei received the first yellow card of the match in the 73rd minute.
Gomez then had a marvelous chance to draw level with Samuel Eto’o’s tally of seven goals for the competition, but Costanzo saved his low header with his legs. Costanzo was under put under more pressure when Phillip Lahm’s low cross was pushed out by the
goalkeeper, only for substitute Altintop to blast it over to the bar.
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