Van Gaal delighted with leaders Bayern

MUNICH, Germany: Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal said his side's 3-0 win over Mainz on Saturday was its best home performance of the season as the German giants went back to the top of the German league.

With Leverkusen facing strugglers Freiburg on Sunday, Bayern expect to lose their status as league leaders before the end of the weekend but van Gaal was delighted with his side's effort.

Goals by Daniel van Buyten, Mario Gomez and Arjen Robben gave Bayern the three points in difficult conditions as heavy snow fell throughout the game.

"We have seen our best home performance here today," said van Gaal. "I think Mainz are not an easy team to beat, they have a goalkeeper who can normally stop any ball.

"He made a mistake in the second half and we benefited from it, we created so many chances and had their goalkeeper under pressure.

"We played well against a defensive side and I am very pleased we have seen some good goals as part of a good performance from Bayern."

Dutch winger Robben scored his second goal in two matches to seal Bayern's seventh successive league win.

Having scored the winner in the 3-2 win at Bremen the week before, Robben curled in another freekick with time running out to underline his status as a dead-ball specialist.

"The weather was not good, it was the same for both sides but it worked out for us," said Robben after the ball had slipped out of the Mainz goalkeeper's hands for the first Bayern goal.

"We were lucky with the first goal and things went well after that.

"The coach told us to stay calm at the break because we were still level and our patience paid off."

And fellow goalscorer van Buyten said it was important for Bayern to stay in the winning habit as they looked to keep the pressure on Leverkusen.

"It was very important that we got the win to make sure we stay motivated," said van Buyten who scored his fifth league goal of the season.

AFP

(China Daily 02/01/2010 page23)