UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich vs FC Basel – Half Time Report
Bayern Munich had little to play for before the last UEFA Champions League group stage game. With 4 wins out of 5, the German Champions were already finishing top of the table and that is the reason why their coach Louis Van Gaal looked to be least concerned
about the result of the game.
Even though the German Champions and last year’s UEFA Champions League finalists, Bayern Munich were still playing their best team in order to remain match fit, Louis Van Gaal did not want to take any chances with his players' fitness so he decided to play
with Thomas Kraft guarding the goal. It were Philipp Lahm, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, Breno and Diego Contento helping him out in the defence. The Germans were playing a traditional 4-4-2 at their home ground and it were Bastian Shweinsteiger and Mark Van Bommel
who were playing in the centre of the pitch with Frank Ribery and Toni Kroos playing on the wings. The Golden Boot winner of 2010 FIFA World Cup, Thomas Mueller and their top UEFA Champions League goal scorer Mario Gomez played up front as the two strikers.
On the other hand, FC Basel had a lot at stake. Just in case they were to win this game on the home ground of German Champions and Roma were defeated by FC Cluj in the other Group E fixture, they would qualify for the next round of UEFA Champions League.
With so much at stake, they did actually approach the game in an attacking formation. The team that was playing did feature in a 4-4-2, but the two midfielders were not holding, in fact one of them played as a centre midfielder while the other played a little
up front as an attacking midfielder.
With Franco Costanzo guarding the goal, it were Samuel Inkoom, David Abraham, Beg Ferati and Xherdan Shakiri who helped him at the back. Gilles Yapi played as an attacking midfielder while Cabral was the one playing as central midfielder. Valentin Stocker
and Marco Streller were playing on the wings as Behrang Safari and Alexander Frei played up front as strikers.
The game started off well for the visitors who were in Germany to win it. The first chance of the game fell for the visitors when Alexander Frei slipped an outstanding pass for Valentin Stocker. Despite the fact that the chance looked dangerous, it was Philipp
Lahm who made no mistake in clearing the ball to safety as soon as it fell on his stronger left foot.
While the Germans were relying too much on the wings, the visitors were ready to face the threat as they deployed quick footed full backs in order to stop Toni Kroos and Frank Ribery. The Frenchman Frank Bilal Ribery was the biggest threat but FC Basel were
ready and defending well along with the attacking approach that they came up with in the match.
Even though FC Basel were looking for the goal, it was the home side that managed to draw first blood. It was totally ruthless stuff from the home side as Contento showed great determination to get to the by-line before squaring for Ribery who whipped the
ball into the empty net. With the home team leading 1-0 it was obvious that there was less for Basel to play for; however, the Germans were not done yet. Soon after two minutes Bayern managed to score again. There were two goals in only two minutes. Gomez
headed the ball on from a corner kick and Tymosschuk was in the right place to convert from a yard out as the Germans were about to win their fifth UEFA Champions League group stage game.
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