Bayern 4 - 1 Tatanka (366193696)

23974 punters turned up at Allianz Arena, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Henrik Heggland was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Marc-Kevin Bauer and Hagen Schmoll-Hahn. Bayern started off with a 4-5-1 lineup. They fielded: Granieri - Moestrup, Storzer, Vilén, Vincze - Besnard, Mehra, Block, Hristov, Bolcioni - Lehouck.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Tatanka. Lineup: Brito - Dobrosta, Chiacchioli, Epicoco - Ebersdorfer, Ernst, Birot, Abdelli, Castanheira - Tabără, Linwald.

The wings were the focus of most of Bayern's attacks today. After 2 minutes Tatanka's A. Abdelli limped slightly after a late challenge, but he was able to continue. Bayern took the lead 15 minutes in, as C. Besnard broke through on the left and put the 1 - 0 shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched keeper. The visitors kept the pressure on to tie the game when, after 17 minutes, P. Chiacchioli broke through the centre and found himself alone with the keeper. P. Granieri made a great block, though. Tatanka tied it all up, 18 minutes in, after a spectacular goal by P. Linwald, who miraculously broke through the home side's central defence, making it 1 - 1. Tatanka's P. Linwald left the field after 29 minutes because of a nasty blow to the shin. His replacement was M. La Delfa. The Tatanka captaincy was handed to H. Ebersdorfer. With 32 minutes played, Bayern's well-worked indirect free kick caused havoc in the penalty area, and when the ball eventually fell to H. Lehouck he gleefully slotted the ball home to make it 2 - 1. 2 - 1 was the halftime score. Bayern enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 70 percent of possession.

After 47 minutes, Bayern's H. Moestrup found the back of the goal with a beautiful free kick. 3 - 1. Bayern increased the lead as H. Storzer struck to make the score 4 - 1 after an attack from the left left him unmarked in front of the keeper. At this point, it was obvious that the players of Bayern lowered the tempo and became more defensively oriented. Some things can only be learned through experience, and M. Mehra should take his lesson to heart after nearly gifting Tatanka a goal with 64 minutes of the match played. Possession in this half belonged to Bayern, who controlled the ball 74 percent of the time.

Most important Bayern player was H. Lehouck. On the other hand, H. Storzer's play was disheartening. The most dominating Tatanka player was without a doubt G. Birot. M. La Delfa turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 4 - 1.