How Bayern Munich reached the Champions League final
Bayern Munich will bid to create history on Saturday night as they attempt to become only the fourth club to have won the European Cup five times. José Mourinho and Inter Milan stand in their way at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium, but after a dramatic run to the final, they should hold few fears for the German team. Here’s how Louis van Gaal’s men made it to Madrid:
September 15th 2009: Maccabi Haifa 0 Bayern Munich 3, Group A
A comfortable start for Bayern in Tel-Aviv, as the Israelis showed the form that would eventually see them finish rock bottom of the group and without a point. It still took the visitors over an hour to break the deadlock though, before Daniel van Buyten finished well after a corner wasn’t cleared. Young substitute Thomas Müller wrapped up the victory with a late brace, and Bayern’s campaign was up and running.
September 30th 2009: Bayern Munich 0 Juventus 0, Group A
Plenty of action, but no goals at the Allianz Arena. Vincenzo Iaquinta, Miroslav Klose and Müller all missed good chances, and the result only strengthened Bordeaux’s hold on the group.
October 21st 2009: Bordeaux 2 Bayern Munich 1, Group A
If that result didn’t give Bordeaux control, then this one surely did. It was quite a night for Michaël Ciani, who first put through his own net to give Bayern the lead, before cancelling that out with a near-post header from a corner. Müller was then sent off for picking up two yellow cards, and Marc Planus put the French side in front before half time. Luca Toni missed a great chance to equalise for the ten men in the second half, and the margin of defeat would have been greater had Hans-Jörg Butt not saved two Bordeaux penalties, the latter of which coming after van Buyten had been sent off.
November 3rd 2009: Bayern Munich 0 Bordeaux 2, Group A
They were writing Bayern off after this one. Van Gaal’s side were comprehensively beaten by Laurent Blanc’s Bordeaux, a result that took group progression out of their own hands and ensured that the French side were through. Yoann Gourcuff’s first half header left Bayern with everything to do, and as the rain lashed down at the Allianz Arena, it was tempting to think that German hopes were washing away with it. Marouane Chamakh pounced on some late indecision to grab a second and send the travelling supporters wild.
November 25th 2009: Bayern Munich 1 Maccabi Haifa 0, Group A
It was a win, but hardly a convincing one. Relief spread through the Allianz Arena when Ivica Olić pounced after a Mario Gómez effort had been saved just after the hour mark. It was a poor game, but the three points were vital, and Bordeaux’s win over Juve at least put qualification back in Bayern’s hands.
December 8th 2009: Juventus 1 Bayern Munich 4, Group A
Only a win would do, and what a win. Bayern’s hopes of progression looked over when David Trezeguet gave Juve the lead, however Butt’s penalty – his third career goal against Juventus, and yes, he is the goalkeeper – drew the visitors level before half time. After the break, Olić pounced after Gianluigi Buffon had saved a van Buyten header, and late efforts from Gómez and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk rounded off a terrific win. Juventus were out, and Bayern qualified in second place.
February 17th 2010: Bayern Munich 2 Fiorentina 1, round of 16, first leg
You need luck to win the Champions League, and if Bayern are holding aloft the trophy on Saturday night then they might like to look back at this game. Arjen Robben’s penalty in the closing stages of the first half gave the hosts the lead, before Per Krøldrup, who had given away the spot kick, atoned by levelling from close range. It looked as though Fiorentina were going to take a draw back to Italy, before, in the final minute, Olić’s header across goal was nodded in by a clearly offside Miroslav Klose. The goal stood, and Bayern had a lead.
March 9th 2010: Fiorentina 3 Bayern Munich 2, round of 16, second leg (aggregate 4-4, Bayern win on away goals)
Not for the first time in the competition, Bayern looked down and out an hour into this game. Goals from Juan Manuel Vargas and Stevan Jovetić had given La Viola a firm advantage, before Mark van Bommel levelled the tie with a low drive after being set up by Franck Ribéry. Jovetić quickly put Fiorentina ahead on aggregate again, before – just a minute later – Robben scored one of the goals of the tournament. Cutting in from the right, the Dutchman skipped past two challenges and smashed an unstoppable shot into the top corner from fully 25 yards. It was outstanding piece of genius. Fiorentina – presumably stunned – couldn’t respond.
March 30th 2010: Bayern Munich 2 Manchester United 1, quarter-final, first leg
What had started so badly ended so well. Wayne Rooney gave United the lead inside two minutes, and after last year’s losing finalists threatened to run away with it, Bayern came more and more into the game in the second half. Ribéry’s free kick deflected in off Rooney for a deserved equaliser, before – in the second minute of stoppage time – an error from Patrice Evra was punished by Olić, who coolly finished beyond Edwin van der Sar. It would prove to be an important goal.
April 7th 2010: Manchester United 3 Bayern Munich 2, quarter-final, second leg (aggregate 4-4, Bayern win on away goals)
Who says that lightning can’t strike twice? United raced into a three-goal lead courtesy of an effort from Darron Gibson and two goals from Portuguese winger Nani. Olić, so crucial in this campaign, capitalised on a Michael Carrick error to put Bayern back in the tie just before half time, before Brazilian defender Rafael was sent off for two bookable offences early in the second period. A 10-man United were holding on until, with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, a stunning, piercing Robben volley from outside the area flew into the corner of the net. The home side couldn’t respond, and Bayern were through on away goals thanks to a piece of genius from their Dutch winger, again.
April 21st 2010: Bayern Munich 1 Lyon 0, semi-final, first leg
Red cards, recriminations and Robben dominated this first leg. A poor game sprang into life in the 37th minute when Ribéry was given his marching orders for a shocking lunge at Lyon’s Lisandro Lopez. Bayern rallied, and were helped when the visitors’ had Jérémy Toulalan somewhat harshly dismissed for two yellows early in the second period, before Robben cut inside and hit another long range effort that flew past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. It may have taken a deflection off team-mate Müller, but no matter. It was Robben’s goal, and it was Bayern’s advantage.
April 27th 2010: Lyon 0 Bayern Munich 3, semi-final, second leg (Bayern win 4-0 on aggregate)
This was surely about as simple as a Champions League semi-final can be. Olić, second only to Robben as Bayern’s star man this campaign, hit a hat-trick as Bayern overwhelmed the French side to book their place in Madrid. His first came midway through the first half after a Müller cutback, his second followed an excellent Hamit Altintop through ball, and he headed in his third from a Philipp Lahm cross. Lyon captain Cris had been sent off in between the first and second goals, but it barely mattered, Bayern were better, and head to Madrid full of confidence. They’ll fancy their chances of a fifth crown on Saturday night, but Mourinho and Inter will have a thing or two to say about that.
To read about Inter Milan's run to the final, click here: http://www.senore.com/How-Inter-Milan-reached-the-Champions-League-Final-a11326
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