Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Juventus 1-4 Bayern Münich

FC Bayern Münich reached the UEFA Champions League first knockout round in scintillating style after coming from behind to complete a memorable victory at Juventus thanks to strikes by goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt, Ivica Olić, Mario Gómez and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk.

Blistering fightback
Though David Trezeguet had given La Vecchia Signora the lead with a wonderful strike on 19 minutes Bayern, who required victory to reach the knockout stages, had dominated early on. The character of the German side withstood the setback, however, and Butt equalised from the penalty spot after Olić had been brought down. Early in the second half, despite the sustained resistance of Gianluigi Buffon, the lively Croatia striker pounced to turn the match on its head, Gómez and substitute Tymoshchuk adding goals in the final seven minutes to consign Juve, for whom this equalled their record home defeat in UEFA competition, to the UEFA Europa League.

Olić chance
The Bundesliga outfit began strongly, Bastian Schweinsteiger standing out with his powerful running from deep. The Germany international began and ended a promising move in the fifth minute, carrying the ball 20 metres, finding Thomas Müller on the right, and meeting his cut-back with a shot that sailed over. The visitors came even closer minutes later when Olić rose to head Mark van Bommel's cross against the far post.

Trezeguet strike
Juventus, without the injured Giorgio Chiellini, appeared to be creaking but suddenly scored. Martín Demichelis brought the ball out of defence but failed to spot Diego, who dispossessed him, found Claudio Marchisio, and the midfielder's searching pass was met with a sublime first-time Trezeguet volley. The Stadio Olimpico burst into life, but fell silent within seconds as Buffon tipped over Schweinsteiger's effort and then kept out an Olić header.

Butt equaliser
Bayern were refusing to lie down and drew level after the livewire Olić was felled by Martín Cáceres and Butt kept his nerve to beat Buffon from the spot for his third career goal against Juventus. Louis van Gaal's men were rampant, and should have been ahead two minutes later when Gómez headed over from three metres, Buffon again saving well from Schweinsteiger before half-time.

Olić goal
The Bundesliga outfit maintained their momentum after the break and on 52 minutes Olić scored the goal he so richly deserved. Danijel Pranjić had already brought another save from Buffon and when the exposed Juve goalkeeper was again required to parry Daniel Van Buyten's downward header from another Van Bommel cross, the Croatia striker tucked the rebound into the unguarded net. Now it was the hosts who were going out and Ciro Ferrara's men attempted the fightback, Christian Poulsen and Trezeguet going close.

Clinching goals
Juventus, though, never really looked like finding the elusive equaliser despite the introduction of Sebastian Giovinco and Amauri. Indeed, it was the visitors who grew stronger and they scored a third seven minutes from time from a Schweinsteiger corner. Van Buyten's header was kept out by Buffon but again the goalkeeper was unlucky with the rebound, Gómez finishing from less than a metre. The final flourish was applied by Tymoshchuk from the edge of the area in added time, completing a memorable night for Bayern and a miserable one for their hosts.

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