Basel stuns Bayern Munich

FC Basel boosted its chance of a place in the Champions League quarterfinals with a shock 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in its last-16 first-leg tie on Wednesday.

Having beaten Manchester United 2-1 in Basel last December, the host pulled off another stunning victory when midfielder Valentin Stocker found the target in the 86th minute having been left unmarked by the Munich defence.

"It was a very difficult game, Bayern made us run a lot," said Basel goalkeeper Yann Sommer. "We have beaten two of the best teams in the world here now - Manchester United, from who we took four points in total, and Bayern which is unbelievable for a Swiss team. But we are a good side and we believe in ourselves so I don't think Bayern under estimated us."

The defeat compounded Bayern's flagging confidence ahead of the return leg on March 13 at its Allianz Arena, which also hosts the final on May 19.

While Basel is flying high at the top of the Swiss league, Bayern has won just three of its seven games since Christmas and was held to a goalless draw at bottom side Freiburg last Saturday to leave it third in the Bundesliga.

"It's of course a very bitter defeat for us," said Bayern's Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

"You can't even say it wasn't deserved, we didn't play well and didn't take our chances. We have to deal with this internally now and fix the problems quickly.

"There were too many mistakes and we have to cut them out."

Bayern president Uli Hoeness said: "It doesn't make sense to look for reasons so soon after the game.

"But 1-0 means we still have a good chance to get a result in the return leg."

AFP

(China Daily 02/24/2012 page24)