week 12 - match report

Bayern win product of their "greater efficiency"

Schalke slipped to their first home defeat of the season on Sunday. "If you have to lose a game, the fans should at least get to see some good football", said head coach Fred Rutten after the 2-1 reverse against Bayern Munich.

In the first half, in particular, the Royal Blues put on a display of strong running and committed tackling that had the crowd electrified, with the VELTINS Arena louder than it had been for a long time. This was in so small part due two early goals. Mark van Bommel and Luca Toni combined down the right to tee up the Italy striker in the third minute, a goal that was matched for quality by the interplay between Rafinha and Jefferson Farfan that allowed the Peruvian to level just two minutes later. From then on the home side dominated the proceedings with some impressive football.

"We played some excellent tactical football in the first half and kept finding men in space in midfield, which saw us create a number of chances", said Rutten, describing an onslaught that was not at all to the liking of his counterpart, Jürgen Klinsmann. "In the first half an hour we were a bit worried because Schalke put us under a lot of pressure", the Bayern boss said. A second Schalke goal was in the offing when Ernst and Jones went close with shots and Farfan was pulled down in the box by Borowski for what looked like a penalty - but it was the visitors who struck next. Schalke lost possession going forward and Franck Ribery and Ze Roberto took advantage with lightning speed, the Frenchman eventually netting what would prove to be the decisive goal. "We scored two superb goals", said Klinsmann, not without justification.

It was an annoying goal to concede and seemed to knock the Royal Blues out of their stride somewhat. "After getting the equaliser we needed to keep our composure - and we did that, but still we shouldn't have conceded a second so quickly", explained Rutten. "At half-time we told the players to carry on as they were because we knew the chances would come."

Yet until the closing stages there was little goalmouth action to speak of. "There were gaps between our defensive midfield and our backline. We sorted it out during the interval and as a result we were a lot less agitated on the touchline than we were in the first half", said Klinsmann. After the restart the visitors adopted a similar defensive approach to Arminia Bielefeld two weeks previously, though with far better players.

And they remained a constant threat on the break through Ribery, who caught the eye not only with his tremendous ability but also some unnecessary playacting. In a challenge with Jermaine Jones he fell to the floor as if he'd been shot, holding his hands to his face. But the television pictures showed clearly that Jones had done nothing wrong.

Schalke continued to push forward, but despite forcing 18 corners they were unable to mount a serious threat. "Today the more efficient team won", summarised Rutten. "We were lacking there and our set pieces weren't that good either." Nevertheless Westermann spurned an opportunity to equalise with a header in the 90th minute, though Sosa did hit the post for Bayern on a stoppage-time break. But that was of no concern to the visitors. Klinsmann: "We're very happy to have taken three points from an exciting, action-packed game."

Schalke: Neuer - Rafinha, Bordon, Westermann, Kobiashvili - Jones, Ernst (Asamoah 83') - Rakitic (Sanchez 60') - Farfan, Kuranyi, Halil Altintop (Streit 72')
Bayern: Rensing - Oddo, Lucio, Demichelis, Ze Roberto (Lell 62') - Van Bommel, Borowski - Kroos (Sosa 89'), Ribery - Toni (Ottl 71'), Klose
Goals: 0-1 Toni (3'), 1-1 Farfan (5'), 1-2 Ribery (31')
Referee: Kircher (Rottenburg)
Attendance: 61,673 (sold out)
Yellow cards: Ernst (3), Rakitic (2) - Borowski (3), Lucio, Ze Roberto (2), Demichelis (3)