Champions League Analysis: Bayern Munich v Roma

Mueller Wonder Goal Breaks Roman Hearts.

Louis van Gaal’s men showed fierce determination to break down an extremely defensive Roma side who barely put a pass forward throughout the match. Late goals from Thomas Mueller and Miroslav Klose dispatched the Italian outfit and put Bayern Munich in prime position for a spot in the round of sixteen.

Bayern Munich dominated possession from start to finish, and passed the ball very effectively. Schweinsteiger and van Bommel kept the ball inside Roma’s half and played it around the penalty area throughout the match, but breaking through the disciplined Italian defense was not an easy task. A Roman midfield containing Brighi, De Rossi, Perrotta, and Pizarro provides very little if any width at all, meaning Ranieri’s men were looking to play a very tight, defensive midfield and that coming away with a draw was the priority for the Italian side.

With just twelve minutes left to go, Roma’s defensive work was undone by a bit of brilliance from Thomas Mueller, who scored with the outside of his foot from a ridiculous angle. The curve on that ball was deadly, and beating Julio Sergio between the sticks for Roma was no easy task. Sergio thwarted Mueller from point-blank range earlier on in the game, but Mueller got his revenge with an absolute wonder-goal that even received a standing ovation from Franz Beckenbauer.

This win could put the confidence back into the Bayern Munich squad, and things could really start to click for the side who did so well last season in the Champions League as well as walking away with the DFB Pokal and the Bundesliga title last season. This weekend, Bayern Munich will host Koln in what should be an emphatic win for van Gaal’s side, should they continue to play so strongly.