UEFA Champions League: Bayern Munich vs. Roma - Half Time Report
Both Bayern and Roma are powerhouses, and this was set up to be an exciting encounter. Bayern Munich especially were hoping to get an early win and try and get their campaign off to a great start so that they could repeat
last year’s run.
Bayern Munich featured their best side as Hans Jorg Butt was the goalkeeper who stood his ground between the two posts to defend the goal. The German backline consisted of Van Buyten, Badstuber, Philip Lahm and Contento.
The former Barcelona player, Van Bommel featured as a defensive midfielder while Schweinsteiger assisted him in that particular position. Thomas Muller featured as a right winger for the first time, as he usually plays as a striker
for the German club. It was Ivica Olic along with Toni Kroos who were up front to help the team score goals.
Roma too featured their strongest side, except for Adriano who was unable to take to the field. The first team goalkeeper Lobont was on the bench while new goalkeeper Julio Sergio took his place between the two poles. Cassetti
along with De Rossi and Brighi were the ones who acted as defensive walls while Aleandro Rosi joined them as well. Pizarro was seen on the right wing as he helped the team combine well and he used to make way to the center of the field to make the through
balls to the striking force of the Italian side. The Italian team featured Totti and the newly signed Boriello as strikers and they were a menace for Bayern.
The match started off with both the teams trying their best to score goals; however, it was the German side that dominated most of the game. By keeping possession of the ball, the German side started taking advantage of their
home ground and home crowd. Roma were all set in white while Munich were in their traditional red.
Early in the match it was Thomas Muller who made chances from the right flank and right at the start of the game he made a run forward but De Rossi was there to interrupt him as the ball went out of play.
Bayern had the lion’s share of the possession throughout the first half as Roma were keen to sit back and invite the Germans so that they themselves could counter. Bayern kept trying to break through the Italian defensive
wall but failed consistently.
On the other hand, Boriello got into a great position in the 18thminute of the game but Totti over hit the pass while the Bayern defense was left mesmerized by the quick, silky passing from the Italians.
After the 30th minute, the German team started to take their chances and started to take shots on goal as shots rained in from Muller, Kroos and Lahm. However, the Roma goalkeeper was a wall himself
and didn't really let the ball enter the goal as both teams failed to score.
Even though there were many chances flying in for Bayern Munich throughout the first half, they still couldn’t manage to find any goals. It was the Italians who kept on defending their goal well and tried their "traditional"
counter attacking football.
Bayern have enjoyed the possession and the chances during the first half, but they have not been able to open the scoring. Though it’s good possession football from the German side, they’ve still looked pedestrian. Conversely,
Roma have seemed happy just to soak up the pressure.
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