Test Blog: BayernMunich

Wolfsburg end Bayern's league run

Unknown 0 BayernMunich, Bundesliga, wolfburg 6:32 PM

Two <a name="more"></a> goals each for Bas Dost and Kevin de Bruyne saw Wolfsburg stun Bayern Munich with an emphatic 4-1 win on Friday. The first game back after Germany's mid-season break gave Wolfsburg's players and fans the opportunity to honour the life of 20-year-old midfielder Junior Mandala, who died in a car crash earlier this month, before kick-off. Dieter Hecking's team, who were 11 points behind leaders Bayern in second before Friday's match, proceeded to give a stirring performance from the first whistle - Dost handing them a fourth-minute lead. Making only his fourth start of an injury-hit campaign, Dutch striker Dost doubled his tally in first-half stoppage time before the excellent De Bruyne took centre-stage. The Belgium international displayed visible emotion in memory of his countryman Mandala when he made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute. Although Juan Bernat hit back for Bayern two minutes later, De Bruyne would mesmerizingly turn Dante inside-out to rifle in an unstoppable fourth and seal Bayern's worst league defeat since a 5-1 thrashing on the same ground in April 2009. Following a poignant pre-match tribute to Mandala - commemorated with a lengthy period of applause before a moment's silence - Wolfsburg stylishly took the lead from their first attack. Luiz Gustavo intercepted Thomas Muller's pass to launch a clinical counterattack. Daniel Caligiuri's exquisite throughball from the right picked out De Bruyne, who selflessly touched the ball into Dost's path to stroke home. Aside from the goal, Bayern largely bossed the early exchanges and Wolfsburg defender Robin Knoche made a timely block to deny Robert Lewandowski in the 14th minute. The champions' usual poise deserted them as the half wore on and they might have been further behind when Xabi Alonso carelessly gave away possession to De Bruyne, but he was unable to pick out Dost on this occasion – the Dutchman scuffing another effort wide soon after. However, he would not rue his misses for long. Bayern half-cleared a stoppage-time set-piece and, although Dost's contact did not appear to be completely clean, the Dutchman lashed into the top corner via the upright. Though Caligiuri could not convert Ivan Perisic's superb left wing cross soon after the interval, Wolfsburg once again would not pay for their profligacy as Bayern's defensive efforts completely unravelled. Centre-halves Jerome Boateng and Dante's eagerness to press up the field was exposed as a simple pass from Maximilian Arnold sent De Bruyne racing clear to finish coolly. Bayern reduced the deficit instantly - Bernat left with a tap in as Naldo failed to clear his initial prod goalwards. Wolfsburg were unbowed and Dost headed back across goal for Arnold to lift over from close range after Perisic had further joy down the Bayern right in the 57th minute. Home goalkeeper Diego Benaglio pushed a firmly struck free kick from Arjen Robben over but, with 17 minutes to play, De Bruyne had the sensational final word. Arnold was the provider once more as the number of league goals Bayern have conceded this season was doubled in one unforgettable outing. Goal.com

Wolfsburg end Bayern's league run

Two goals each for Bas Dost and Kevin de Bruyne saw Wolfsburg stun Bayern Munich with an emphatic 4-1 win on Friday. The first game back...

Birthday Boy Celebrate his Birthday with a Brace

Unknown 0 BayernMunich, Bundesliga, Europe 3:38 PM

<div class="ui-droppable" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Birthday Boy Arjen Robben Pushes Bayern Munich Through Final Test Against Bochum" src="http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/248/198/hi-res-8970abed817250ab0e200227bb9fdf87_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75" style="background-color: transparent;" />Bayern Munich <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2340237-birthday-boy-arjen-robben-pushes-bayern-munich-through-final-test-against-bochum#" id="_GPLITA_1" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpjb250aW51ZTo5YWIzYTkyMWQ1MTY4MzAyNGE0MGIxZTMwYWIyMDY1Njp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6YmxlYWNoZXJyZXBvcnQuY29tOjIzMjMyNjoxYmZjNDIzOGEwOTI5OGNmNzg0YTZlMzdmNTUxZWNiZTo5Y2Q5OTk0NWM5YjA0ZjE2OThkMzBkZTYzY2U4YTgyZTowOmRhdGFfc3MsNzI4eDEzNjY7ZGF0YV9mYixubzs6NDQyMDc4MA&subid=g-16389754-6d9ba3ee7db748a3ad99a874e7c34275-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #003366; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTINUED<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-size: 16px; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a></div><a name="more"></a> their  preparation for the return of Bundesliga action later this month with a 5-1 victory over Bochum on Friday night, with a helping hand from the consistently excellent Arjen Robben. <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Dutch star, who was celebrating his 31st birthday on the night, pulled his side back into the <span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_2" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">game with a wonderful one-two via Thomas Muller in the 26th minute and galvanised Bayern as they went on to score three more goals in the second half, with Pep Guardiola's men marching on to a confident win. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Spanish coach continued his relentless desire for success, despite playing in a friendly <span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_3" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">match, with yet another full-strength side that wouldn't have looked out of place in the German top division or indeed the Champions League. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">Manuel Neuer returned in goal, big-name players such as Jerome Boateng and Juan Bernat shored up the defensive line, BastianSchweinsteiger pulled the strings in midfield and Robert Lewandowskiled the line up front. This wasn't a Bayern side that came to simply go through the motions. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The solitary surprise inclusion in Guardiola's XI was Brazilian defender Dante, making up the only member of the squad who wouldn't perhaps make a full-strength side. Yet it was the central defender who helped Bayern take the lead in the 44th minute with a routine header, via the corner from Robben. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The home side may have opened the scoring and took an unexpected lead through an outstanding volley from midfielder Danny Latza in the opening five minutes, but it was Bayern who went on to dominate as expected as the second half rumbled on. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The inclusion of Mario Gotze, David Alaba and Sebastian Rode early in the second half made an immediate impact, with the former <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/borussia-dortmund" style="background: transparent; border: 0px; color: #003366; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">BorussiaDortmund</a> midfielder scoring within five minutes of coming on.</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The role of each <span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_4" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">player and their performance within this side was a timely reminder of just how much strength and talent Guardiola has to pick from when going from one match to the next. The German champions looked strong, fit and most importantly like their old self in the evening friendly—undoubtedly a welcome sign for their manager ahead of their upcoming tie against Wolfsburg next week. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">Much will be made of Guardiola's insistence on getting absolutely everything right, but the Bayern manager has good reason behind it. Dieter Hecking's side offered some genuine scares in the opening match of this season's league campaign and have only gotten better as the year as ticked on. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wolfsburg will welcome Bayern to the <span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_5" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">Volkswagen Arena next Friday with every intention of taking something from the match, and the German champions better be ready. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div> <div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;"></div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">Although the game was <span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_7" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">indeed a match for the entire squad to build up their<span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_6" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">fitness and confidence ahead of the coming tests, it was Robben who <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2340237-birthday-boy-arjen-robben-pushes-bayern-munich-through-final-test-against-bochum#" id="_GPLITA_2" in_hdr="" in_hover="" in_rurl="http://s.srv-itx.com/click?v=VVM6Nzg0NTc6NDpjb250aW51ZTowN2M0NDE5ODVhMmMxZmJlMTA3ODdiNzUzMzEwNmUyNDp6LTIyNDctMTYzODk3NTQ6YmxlYWNoZXJyZXBvcnQuY29tOjIzMjMyNjoxYmZjNDIzOGEwOTI5OGNmNzg0YTZlMzdmNTUxZWNiZTo2MmIyZTM4MGViNWY0ZmMyYTMzYTVjMTJhZTJkMzliMzowOmRhdGFfc3MsNzI4eDEzNjY7ZGF0YV9mYixubzs6NDQyMDc4MA&subid=g-16389754-6d9ba3ee7db748a3ad99a874e7c34275-&data_ss=728x1366&data_fb=no&data_tagname=P" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; color: #003366; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important;" title="Click to Continue > by InText">CONTINUOUSLY<img src="http://cdncache-a.akamaihd.net/items/it/img/arrow-10x10.png" style="background: transparent !important; border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; float: none !important; font-size: 16px; height: 10px !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 3px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; vertical-align: super !important; width: 10px !important;" /></a> outperformed all others and peppered the Bochumdefence with the trademark dribbles, passes and indeed goals that have made him Bayern's best player this season. </div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">The winger truly outdid himself in the 78th minute, when he managed to cut inside like he's done so often, skip past two defenders like he's done so often and then smack a long-range shot past the keeper like he's done for so long. Everyone always knows exactly what Robben is about to do, but nobody has ever managed to stop him.</div><div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #373737; font-family: 'Open Sans', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 16px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 80px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the Wolves settle down for <span class="fv3qfu3ry" id="fv3qfu3ry_8" style="background: transparent; border-bottom-width: 1px !important; border-style: none none solid !important; color: rgb(76, 76, 255) !important; cursor: pointer; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; height: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 0px !important; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">training next week, looking ahead to theBayern side they'll meet, it will be this tricky winger more than any other in Guardiola's squad who will take up most of their preparation.Wolfsburg know they have to stop Robben if they want to halt this Bavarian machine. Bochum didn't, and they learned it the hard way. Credit to Bleacherreport</div><a class="twitter-share-button" data-via="SoccerGlee1" href="https://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><script>!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');</script>

Birthday Boy Celebrate his Birthday with a Brace

Bayern Munich CONTINUED their preparation for the return of Bundesliga action later this month with a 5-1 victory over Bochum on Fr...