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BATE Borisov stun Bayern

Mark HallamOctober 2, 2012

Bayern Munich travelled to Belarus seeking three easy Champions League points, at least on paper. Their hosts in Borisov had other ideas - managing to humble Germany's most successful side 3-1.

https://p.dw.com/p/16J6y
Borisov's Aleksandr Pavlov (3-R) celebrates with his team mates Aleksandr Hleb (4-L) and Dmitri Likhtarovich (R) during the Champions League Group F soccer match between FC Bate Borisov and FC Bayern Munich at the Dinamo stadium in Minsk, Belarus, 02 October 2012. (Photo: dpa)
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

Heavy favorites Bayern Munich dropped three points and shipped three goals against BATE Borisov. Both sides are the most successful clubs in their countries, but that should have been where the similarities ended between last year's Bundesliga runners-up and the back-to-back Belarusian champions.

BATE set the tone early with a combative start to the game, making it immediately clear that they weren't planning to roll over. BATE had the first shot of the game and it took Bayern almost 10 minutes to get one of their own.

It was Bayern's Toni Kroos who missed the first major chance, winning the ball in the BATE half to put himself clean through on goal in the 13th minute. He rounded the impressive Andrei Gorbunov in BATE's goal and side-footed a left-shooted shot against the post from six yards and an angle that was only slightly inconvenient.

Ten minutes later, on the break after a mounting period of Bayern pressure, BATE pulled the Bavarian back line apart. A long cross from the left cleared the area but was delivered back into the middle from the other side, Aleksandr Pavlov was on hand in front of goal to volley the cross past Manuel Neuer.

Munich's Franck Ribery reacts during the Champions League Group F soccer match between FC Bate Borisov and FC Bayern Munich at the Dinamo stadium in Minsk, Belarus, 02 October 2012. (Photo: dpa)
Franck Ribery pulled one back late, only for Bayern to concede a thirdImage: picture-alliance/dpa

Toothless up front, sloppy at the back

Despite finishing the game with 61 percent possession and having more shots, Bayern weren't able to create the slew of opportunities one might expect. If anything, the Bavarians started looking more and more complacent - especially at the back - as the game wore on.

Midway through the second period the hosts started piling on the pressure with every counter attack, and eventually they were able to double their lead after missing several excellent opportunities.

A simple one-two down the left flank completely unhinged the Bayern defense, with Vitali Rodionov finishing a slick move from the inside-left channel in minute 78. Substitute Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was expecting a rest but was called on by coach Juup Heynckes, captain Philipp Lahm and center-back Jerome Boateng were all on hand, but none seemed in much of a rush to try to intervene.

Bayern came out of their funk a little in the closing phase and began pushing to eliminate the two-goal deficit. Franck Ribery latched onto a well weighted pass from Xherdan Shaqiri to put one past Gorbunov a minute into stoppage time - setting up a scramble in the remaining 180 seconds or so. Even Manuel Neuer had come well out of his area, effectively playing as a sweeper.

In the end, though, it was BATE breaking clear in the dying seconds after Bayern had thrown the kitchen sink forward - midfielder Renan Bressan finished the break against a helpless Neuer to complete the 3-1 shock.

In the other Group F game on Tuesday, Valencia beat LOSC Lille 2-0. BATE lead the group with a perfect six points from two games, Bayern and Valencia both have three points to their names, but the Spanish side has the superior goal difference and therefore occupies second in the group with four games to play.