retired_amyslack

September 19th 2001 – Bayern Held In Ukraine
FC Bayern’s second group game in the Champions League ended scoreless as they visited Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine. The home side adopted a very cagey approach, rarely venturing too far forward, and they successfully restricted Bayern’s scoring opportunities.


September 22nd 2001 – Bayern Too Strong For Hannover
Early leaders Hannover 96 came to Munich hoping to keep their good league form going but found the home side in determined mood. After a slow start Bayern began to dominate and took the lead through Mehmet Scholl on the half hour. Goals from Élber and Ballack followed in the second half as the visitors tired and Bayern took full advantage.


September 26th 2001 – Czech This Out
[b]FC Bayern returned from the trip to the Czech Republic with a fine 4-1 defeat of Slovan Liberec to show for their efforts. Claudio Pizarro got the ball rolling with a goal after just 3 minutes but they had to wait until first half stoppage time before Alexander Zickler doubled their advantage. Robert Kovac added a third on the hour mark and Zé Roberto rounded off a terrific personal performance by netting late on. Ballack missed a penalty in the first half and Pizarro was dismissed with 25 minutes remaining, but these setbacks failed to upset the team.


September 30th 2001 – Defence Best Form Of Attack For Bayern
FC Bayern won in style at HSV with three defensive players scoring their first goals of the season in the first half. Bixente Lizarazu was first off the mark with just two minutes on the clock. Sammy Kuffour followed suit 10 minutes later and Jens Jeremies added the third just before half time. The home side pulled a goal back on 60 minutes before attacker Claudio Pizzaro finished off the scoring in stoppage time.

retired_loubou

Nice start Bobbev, I'll be following this one for sure

retired_amyslack

Thanks Bjorn

October 10th 2001 – Bayern Off To A Flyer In Cup
A 4-1 victory at Nürnberg gave FC Bayern a great start in their German Cup campaign but it was not without cost for the Munich team. With Sebastian Deisler already sidelined for a month with a training injury, Sammy Kuffour joined the walking wounded with a knee problem that will keep him out of action for 3 weeks. Fellow defender Robert Kovac will also be absent as he will serve a one-match suspension after being sent off in the second half. As far as the match itself is concerned Élber opened the scoring midway through the first half and then in a devastating 60-second spell in stoppage time Pizarro and Zickler both found the net. Élber added his second and Bayern’s fourth on the hour before Nürnberg gained a consolation goal.


October 13th 2001 – Simply Irresistible
For the 4th consecutive game FC Bayern scored 4 times as their scintillating form continues. Hertha BSC were the victims this time and even with their first-choice defensive partnership both missing, Bayern were rarely threatened. Jens Jeremies was immense in midfield, winning tackles and headers and distribution the ball with intelligence and vision. Michael Tarnat opened the scoring in the first half and the only surprise was that there was no further scoring before half time. Mehmet Scholl added the second after 62 minutes with Michael Ballack adding two more in the next 10 minutes, the second from the penalty spot.


October 16th 2001 – The Juggernaut Ploughs On
FC Bayern virtually guaranteed qualification for the second phase of the Champions League with a crushing 5-0 defeat of Slovan Liberec in Munich. Three-up inside 15 minutes and four-up at the break, they could afford to hold back a little in the second half. With Zickler and Zé Roberto causing havoc on each wing the visitors were simply overwhelmed. Élber, Zickler and Jeremies all scored early on with Zé Roberto grabbing two to cap a fantastic performance.

retired_amyslack

October 20th 2001 – Khan To The Fore
FC Bayern captain Oliver Kahn earned his pay by pulling off a series of brilliant saves to deny brave Bochum at least a share of the points in their league match. With the Munich machine not firing on all cylinders the home side played with great endeavour and imagination and will feel aggrieved to have suffered a narrow defeat. Élber scored the only goal of the game in first half stoppage time to maintain their 3-point lead over Dortmund.


October 24th 2001 – Drama At The Nou Camp
A thrilling Champions League group match between Barcelona and FC Bayern ended with a remarkable 3-2 win to the visitors as striker Élber scored a magnificent hat trick to take his tally to 20 for the season. With Barcelona struggling in the group and in danger of elimination, this was a game that the Spaniards desperately wanted to win. After a cagey opening period Élber opened the scoring for Bayern towards the end of the first half. Neither side could dominate play but Bayern had the better of the chances that came along. Then in the last 10 minutes the game roared into life. An otherwise subdued Patrick Kluivert scored twice in four minutes and Barca looked like they were heading to victory. But Élber had other ideas and not to be outdone he repeated the feat, scoring in the 85th and 89th minutes to snatch a famous win. This result ensures that Bayern go through as group winners and Barcelona must win their final game in Slovenia and hope that Shakhtar lose in Munich.


October 27th 2001 – Pizarro Is Hat Trick Hero
Claudio Pizarro underlined that FC Bayern have more to offer than goals from Élber as he found the net three times against Kaiserslautern. He opened the scoring after 15 minutes and then scored twice inside a minute on the half hour to complete his hat trick. With new central defensive signing Leandro Cufré on the bench, Thomas Linke and Robert Kovac were on their toes and Kovac added Bayern’s 4th goal in the second period.

retired_amyslack

November 3rd 2001 – Élber Hurt But Bayern Win Again
FC Bayern recorded another victory in their Bundesliga campaign with a 2-0 win at Leverkusen but lost the services of top striker Élber with a knee injury and the Brazilian is expected to be out of action for 3 weeks. Ballack and Lizarazu got the Bayern goals in the first half. The home side worked hard to get back into the game but failed to register a shot on target during the 90 minutes.


November 6th 2001 – Pizarro Hat Trick In Europe
FC Bayern completed what turned out to be a comfortable Champions League first group stage with a comprehensive 5-0 defeat of Shakhtar. Nico Kovac opened the scoring early in the game to get the home side off to a quick start. Claudio Pizarro scored midway through the half and added two more after the break to bring his total for the season to 10. Michael Ballack was also on the scoresheet. The Kovac brothers both played well and Lizarazu was always menacing with his rampaging runs. In the other group game Barcelona suffered a shock 1-0 defeat at Slovan Liberec and are eliminated from the competition, dropping into the UEFA Cup.


November 10th 2001 – Bayern Still on Song
Schalke 04 were sent packing from the Olympiastadion soundly beaten as FC Bayern recorded a 5-0 scoreline for the second successive game. Zé Roberto was in unstoppable form on the wing, providing three of Bayern’s goals with pinpoint crosses. Alexander Zickler opened the scoring with Pizarro and Ballack adding one each before half time. Roque Santa Cruz scored twice in the second half, his first goals for the club, to round off a mighty impressive display by the Munich giants.

retired_karamelkel

Nice title old-timer. KUTGW

retired_amyslack

Thanks youngster

November 18th 2001 – Bayern Crush Cottbus
FC Bayern travelled to Cottbus with Robert Kovac and Mehmet Scholl both absent having sustained injuries playing for their respective countries in midweek friendlies. It made little difference to their play as they completed a hat trick of 5-0 wins with a powerful attacking display. Zickler and Zé Roberto are on fire on the wings at present and they set up 4 of the 5 goals between them with Zé Roberto scoring two himself. Jeremies, Pizarro and recent signing Leandro Cufré provided the rest in the first half. With such a comfortable cushion Bayern could afford to ease back in the second half and they strolled through the rest of the game.


November 21st 2001 – Newcastle Sent Packing
A 3-0 victory over English visitors Newcastle gave FC Bayern the perfect start to their Champions League second group phase. Looking solid throughout they scored all of their goals in the first half with Michael Ballack getting the ball rolling before Santa Cruz scored twice. The young Paraguayan is taking full advantage of his opportunity with Élber still out injured and is proving to be a highly capable player.


November 25th 2001 – Ballack The Boss
An imperious midfield display by FC Bayern star Michael Ballack set the tome for his team’s 4-0 defeat of Werder Bremen. The midfield maestro scored twice either side of an early goal from Zé Roberto and a late strike by Pizarro. Bayern have now extended their lead in the Bundesliga to 5 points over chasing Dortmund.


November 28th 2001 – Bayern “Seconds” Come Up Trumps
For their German Cup 3rd round tie at home to Borrusia Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern boss Adolf Bohl rested many of his first-choice players but his so-called “second string” proved to be no mugs. They racked up a 7-0 win over a dispirited Gladbach, scoring 5 times in the first half. The Bayern scorers were Pizarro (2), Nico Kovac (2), Diesler, Tarnat and Scholl and Bayern take their place in the Quarter Finals in some style.

retired_amyslack

December 1st 2001 – Bayern Do Just Enough
FC Bayern returned from the league match at Wolfsburg with a narrow 1-0 win courtesy of a goal scored near the end of the first half by Claudio Pizarro. Perhaps with half an eye on their forthcoming trip to Valencia the Bayern players did not look as sharp as usual and the home side will feel that they did enough to warrant a draw.


December 4th 2001 – No Pain In Spain
FC Bayern returned from Valencia with three more points in their quest to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. Goals in each half from substitute Mehmet Scholl and Claudio Pizarro were enough for a win that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Alexander Zickler picked up a knock that will cause him to miss a few games but it is not thought to be too serious.


December 9th 2001 – Ten-Man Munich Still Win
The FC Bayern supporters witnessed a rare sight at the Olympiastadion – the visitors scored a goal. In fact visiting Bielefeld scored twice as they came back from a two-goal deficit to even the game. Élber, now happily restored to the team after injury, and Mehmet Scholl gave Bayern a two-goal lead but then the home side’s equilibrium was broken when Claudio Pizarro was shown two yellow cards for a furious display of temper. The visitors took full advantage and levelled the game before half time. We can only guess what manage Adolf Bohl said to his players during the interval but they came back out with all guns blazing and in spite of their numerical disadvantage Michael Ballack showed his class and struck twice to secure the three points.

retired_amyslack

December 12th 2001 – FC Bayern Lift Intercontinental Cup
A 4-1 victory over São Caetano of Brazil saw FC Bayern return from Tokyo with their second trophy of the season. Sebastian Diesler opened the scoring for Bayern on 17 minutes but less than 10 minutes later the game was all square as Renatinho equalised. But Pizarro restored the advantage on the half hour and Bayern went into the break in front. Sammy Kuffour made it three with 15 minutes remaining and the final nail in the coffin for the Brazilians was an unfortunate own goal by young central defender Clodoaldo.


December 15th 2001 – Another Win For Bayern
A 3-0 victory over bottom of the table Rostock gave FC Bayern their 21st consecutive win in all competitions and their 32nd game without a defeat. The visiting team failed to register a single shot on target as Bayern played well within themselves to take another step towards the Bundesliga title. The scoring was completed inside the first 25 minutes. Willy Sagnol, making a rare start, opened proceedings with Roque Santa Cruz and Élber scoring one each.


December 19th 2001 – Ruthless Bayern Brush Mannheim Aside
Second Division SVW Mannheim must have feared the worst when they were drawn against the mighty FC Bayern in the German Cup Quarter Final. Despite having home advantage the Division Two outfit were overpowered by FC Bayern, losing 5-1. The visitors reached the break four goals to the good with Élber, Jeremies and Santa Cruz all scoring inside the first 15 minutes before Alexander Bugera made it four in just his second start of the season. The second half was played at a much more leisurely pace and Mannheim scored a consolation goal in stoppage time before Élber got his second of the game.

retired_amyslack

January 2nd 2002 – FC Bayern – The Irresistible Force?
When Otmar Hitzfeld left FC Bayern “by mutual agreement” shortly before the start of this season there was intense media speculation about who his successor would be. A variety of high-profile names were bandied about including Fabio Capello, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Arsene Wenger and even Sir Alex Ferguson. It therefore came as a major surprise when the decidedly low profile and certainly unheralded Adolf Bohl was unveiled as the new man in charge at the Olympiastadion. The 47-year-old had a reputation inside the game as a fine coach with an eye for a good player but he was virtually unheard of in the wider world. Yet here we are nearly 6 months into the new regime and past the halfway point in the season and his team are top of the Bundesliga and playing as well as anyone can remember. Maybe it’s beginners luck but his record so far makes awesome reading indeed – played 36, won 32, drawn 3, lost 1, 114 goals for and 14 goals against. Unbeaten in any competition since their defeat by Dortmund in the League Cup Final back in mid-July, FC Bayern are simply steamrollering their way through the season.

So what is the secret of Herr Bohl’s success? Well we won’t find out from the man himself as he is very reticent to stand in the limelight and consistently but politely turns down all requests for interviews. Whatever his methods he has certainly succeeded in getting his players to produce top class performances game after game. It may have something to do with the tactical flexibility that he has displayed, switching his side from a relatively conventional 4-4-2 to a much more unorthodox and very narrow formation as circumstances dictate. He has certainly identified a core set of players that are selected consistently, fitness and suspensions permitting. According to the players themselves, the team spirit in the camp is first rate with none of the conflict and divisions that Bayern have sometimes suffered from in the past. But the big question is can they keep it up? Will the growing pressure that comes with success on all fronts start to take its toll? In the past couple of days the squad has been hit with two significant injuries. Most seriously, Mehmet Scholl suffered a tragic accident on the training ground and is hospitalised with a skull fracture. He is likely to be out of action for at least 6 months, perhaps more depending on his powers of recovery. Also Bixente Lizarazu will be out for a month for a calf strain and his presence at the back will be missed. All the signs are that the team will respond positively to these setbacks and work together as a unit to keep their season intact. After such a fine start it would be tragic indeed if they were not rewarded with a trophy or two at the end of it.