Bayern 2 - 4 Fighting (392858395)

43956 punters turned up at La buvette, and despite threatening clouds on the horizon, no rain came. Daniel Cole was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Marvin Pearce and Kazimierz Chamczyk. Bayern tactics involved an interesting 4-5-1 combination. Starters: Pérez-Serrano - Lampert, Lavater, Fité, Olozaga - Mansueti, Spoßig, Verkulevičius, Beuker, Stilo - Pacher.

Fighting had chosen a strategic 3-4-3 formation. They fielded: Kurman - Roche, Le Bayon, Le Mée - Petri, Loeber, Hugonet, Vermelho - Guironnet, Gauthéron, García Palacios.

Counter-attacking seemed to be the preferred strategy of Bayern. Fighting mostly ignored the flanks in favour of their ability to attack in the middle. After 5 minutes, Fighting's R. Roche made his way through the middle and nonchalantly placed the ball out of the keeper's reach, putting the visitors up 0 - 1. Sensing defeat in the air, the Bayern manager directed R. Fité and S. Lavater to change positions with each other. This was 5 minutes into the match. The corner kick from I. Mansueti was powerfully met by the head of J. Olozaga to make the score 1 - 1. 18 minutes into the game, M. Stilo had to leave the pitch due to a knee injury. In came O. Nesterinen. Fighting players heard their coach's words ringing in their ears and steered their wing attacks to the middle instead. Fighting had several good opportunities to take the lead, especially 19 minutes in when R. Roche came up alone against F. Pérez-Serrano who managed a block. Bayern broke through on the left 21 minutes into the game, with L. Pacher firing in from an acute angle to give the home side a 2 - 1 lead. The visitors' equaliser seemed sure to come after 25 minutes, following a one on one situation around the left hand side of the goal area, but F. Pérez-Serrano got the best of it, blocking the shot from M. Gauthéron. The opposing supporters gave the referee an earful when he only gave M. Gauthéron from Fighting a yellow card after a mistimed challenge from behind 26 minutes into the game. That was far too lenient! Bayern's R. Spoßig went down after a savage challenge, but could continue playing after some medical attention. Fighting levelled the score after 30 minutes to make it 2 - 2, as C. Loeber struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. It was 2 - 2 at the break. Possession in this half belonged to Fighting, who controlled the ball 52 percent of the time.

50 minutes into the game, Fighting wanted to bring some new energy to their game. A. Hugonet gave L. Pach a quick hug as he left the field. Bayern made a bid to take the lead as a ball coming in on the right hand side left L. Pacher completely alone with keeper V. Kurman, who made a spectacular block. 68 minutes into the match, the speedy G. Guironnet easily outpaced R. Fité, chipped the keeper and made the score 2 - 3. Fighting were determined to attack in the middle, even their wing attacks ended up centrally. R. García Palacios received a delicate pass through the home side's central defence after 74 minutes, and chipped it past the flailing keeper to score making it 2 - 4. The Fighting fans went wild, whilst the home fans started to think about leaving early. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the Bayern manager used a brief break in play after 74 minutes to give the players new directives. After 82 minutes, Fighting were awarded a free kick. Rather than shooting straight at goal, the taker went for an indirect variant which seemed to take his team mates a bit by surprise. R. García Palacios did attempt a finish, but from an awkward position, sending the ball into the away fans. With the scoreboard showing that 83 minutes had been played, Fighting nearly put themselves up another goal after G. Guironnet came through on the left. Fortunately for the home crowd, the keeper made the save. Fighting enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 52 percent of possession.

Most important Bayern player was L. Pacher. R. Fité turned in a dismal performance, however. Fighting's best player was R. García Palacios. However, R. Roche made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 2 - 4.