Mandzukic edges Bayern over the line

Posted: 7:38 pm, August 17, 2013 by Felix Roeber

Mandzukic proved the match-winner in a close run thing for Bayern. Photo: DPA

Eintracht Frankfurt 0 – 1 FC Bayern Munich
Goals: 0-1 Mandzukic (13’)

The defending Bundesliga champions recorded a narrow, but ultimately deserved victory in Frankfurt. Mario Mandzukic’s first-half strike made the difference in the second game of the weekend.

The visitors started brightly, immediately putting their foot on the throttle. Twice they emerged in Frankfurt’s area in the opening three minutes, but it was Frankfurt who had the first real shot on goal - Inui tested Neuer with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.

Bayern continued to run at Frankfurt’s defence and Kroos nearly opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a fine header. Kevin Trapp was beaten, but the woodwork saved the hosts. At least for another three minutes anyway as Bayern’s opening dominance finally paid off. Thomas Mueller was sent down the wing by Lahm and the German international played an inch-perfect cross into the centre of the area where Mandzukic met the ball first-time. His half bicycle-kick left Trapp chanceless.

Bayern started to control the game but stepped off the gas. Still they found gaps in Frankfurt’s backline though. Dante should have doubled the lead shortly after the half-hour mark, but a fine save stopped his close range effort from going in.

Despite an overwhelming dominance in the opening 45 minutes, Bayern were lucky to take a lead into half time when Meier’s strike was wrongly ruled out for offside. Frankfurt started the second half aggressively and looked much sharper going forward. And although Neuer wasn’t tested, there was a completely different atmosphere on the pitch.

The match remained very physical and goal chances were at a premium. Frankfurt continued to keep Bayern’s attack under control in the second half and despite not producing clear chances of their own, the home crowd started to believe that a result was possible for their team.

With Frankfurt toiling without reward, Bayern sought to confirm their win. Lahm and Schweinsteiger had the biggest opportunities in the closing minutes but lacked a clinical touch. With the game seemingly over, Neuer unnecessarily charged out of his goal. Having lost possession to Lakic, the equaliser looked inevitable but Dante blocked the Frankfurt striker’s effort. Meier found space late on but not even he could get his shot away in time, leaving Bayern the victors.

Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp – Schröck, Anderson, Zambrano, Oczipka – Flum, Schwegler (Celozzi 78’), Rode (Rosenthal 71’) – Aigner, Inui (Lakic 78’) - Meier

FC Bayern: Neuer – Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba – Schweinsteiger – Müller (Robben 74’), Shaqiri (Thiago 65’), Kroos (Rafinha 88’), Ribery - Mandzukic

Yellow cards: Dante
Attendance: 51,500
Referee: Peter Gagelmann