European soccer
September 16, 2010
Last season's runners-up started their Champions League campaign without injured Dutch international Arjen Robben and suspended Franck Ribery. Bayern missed several chances to go ahead in the first half, failing to break through the solid Roma defense.
The Group E match was heading for a 0-0 draw but then the defending Bundesliga champions ended the stalemate, scoring two goals in the last 11 minutes, courtesy of Germany's World Cup stars Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose.
Change of tactics
Bayern upped the tempo in the last 20 minutes after coach Louis van Gaal brought on Germany forwards Klose and Mario Gomez for Hamit Altintop and Ivica Olic. The tactic created chances for Bayern with Mueller netting the ball in the 79th minute.
Substitute Miroslav Klose put the game beyond doubt in the 83rd minute, flicking in a shot from close range.
"We let the ball run and allowed little against a defensive team, but after 70 minutes they just ran out of steam," said Bayern coach van Gaal. "So when a team like Roma stays behind the ball with 10 men, then we need time to break this team and that is exactly what we did," he said.
"We did it with patience," said Bayern midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
In the next round of matches on September 28, Bayern travel to Basel. Schalke host Benfica and Werder Bremen play title holders Inter Milan on September 29.
Author: Nigel Tandy
Editor: Holly Fox