The form book suggested only one winner in this Champions League tie, Bayern Munich. Fiorentina didn’t read the script, unfortunately the referees did.
Fiorentina’s fine away performance was marred by a succession of poor decisions made by contentious Norwegian referee Tom Henning Overbo. A name and face Chelsea fans do not wish to remember, now football fans from Florence can be added to that list.
Arguably Marco van Bommel should have been sent off in the first half for two rash challenges. A booking he received should have been a straight red on 28 minutes. The Dutchman then chose to take a dive on 39 minutes in no-mans land, but no card arrived. This was then followed by a controversial decision to send off Gobbi, for an alleged elbow to Man of the Match Arjen Robben.
To top this, the linesmen failed to acknowledge Miroslav Klose being a yard offside before poking in the winner in the 89th minute. Robben cut in from the right, saw his shot parried, for Olic to head to the unmarked and offside Klose.
Fiorentina came to play counter-attacking football in a bid to prevent Bayern Munich from turning 12 straight wins into 13. The first 35 minutes suggested this was more than possible.
Indeed Bayern were very slow to start and the team from Florence looked the more likely to score with the lone figure of Gilardino posing their biggest threat. Frank Ribery anonymous in the first half and a shaky centre back partnership of van Buyten and Demichelis gave the Italian club hope, but half chances came and went.
Despite the home side’s inability to control midfield, Robben’s direct-runs and attempts to link up with Mario Gomez finally paid dividends as the home side won a penalty in first-half stoppage-time. Frank Ribery was fouled in the box by former Everton defender Per Kroldrup, as Gomez tucked away the loose ball. But the celebrations were cut short as referee Tom Henning Overbo had already pointed to the spot.
The manner in which the goal was conceded and the timing of it may have suggested that Fiorentina would struggle to find a way back in, but after half-time that is exactly what they did.
A goal arrived from Kroldrup in the 49th minute to give the away side a vital goal that their play deserved. A Fiorentina corner ran deep, hit Jovetic’s leg and found its way to the Danish defender who tuner to finish at the near post.
The much coveted Stevan Jovetic began to show glimpses of why he is one of Europe’s biggest prospects. A one-two with striker Gilardino almost led to a second goal seconds after an equaliser.
However, this marked the end of Fiorentina’s attacking intentions for the remainder of the game. The team in violet now had their focus on taking a draw away from the Allianz Arena.
Jovetic, a two goal hero against Liverpool in the group stages of this season’s competition is still a raw talent. His defending and tracking back are areas for improvement, as is his tackling. Predominately an attacking player, on more than one occasion the young starlet was guilty of giving away needless free-kicks. But this is certainly forgivable for a player making only his second start.
Bayern played some pretty football but failed to penetrate a determined Fiorentina defence frequently. A lack of movement appeared to be a problem due to the set-up of the away side; it was not until play reached the final third that Bayern really came to life.
Hitzfeld turned to Miroslav Klose and Olic in a bid to bring new life to a fading attack. The move paid off as Bayern began to apply more pressure and won successive corners. Although it was not until the sending off of Gobbi that the game really turned in the home-side’s favour.
Gaps now became more frequent in midfield as van Bommel and the ineffectual Schweinsteiger found more space. However, only Robben and Ribery were able to truly exploit a tiring Italian defence.
It appeared Bayern had wasted the chance to take a lead into the second leg when Klose failed to convert from 10 yards out after a pull back from Philip Lahm.
Not to fear the Norwegian officials contrived to find a winner by allowing Klose to score what can only be described as an unfair goal, which denied the Fiorentina players a draw that their determined and disciplined performance had deserved.
The German side will now enter the second leg as favourites with the opportunity to score away goals. Fiorentina can take heart from this match, and barring a repeat performance by the officials, should have the belief that they can turn this tie around.
Fiorentina’s fine away performance was marred by a succession of poor decisions made by contentious Norwegian referee Tom Henning Overbo. A name and face Chelsea fans do not wish to remember, now football fans from Florence can be added to that list.
Arguably Marco van Bommel should have been sent off in the first half for two rash challenges. A booking he received should have been a straight red on 28 minutes. The Dutchman then chose to take a dive on 39 minutes in no-mans land, but no card arrived. This was then followed by a controversial decision to send off Gobbi, for an alleged elbow to Man of the Match Arjen Robben.
To top this, the linesmen failed to acknowledge Miroslav Klose being a yard offside before poking in the winner in the 89th minute. Robben cut in from the right, saw his shot parried, for Olic to head to the unmarked and offside Klose.
Fiorentina came to play counter-attacking football in a bid to prevent Bayern Munich from turning 12 straight wins into 13. The first 35 minutes suggested this was more than possible.
Indeed Bayern were very slow to start and the team from Florence looked the more likely to score with the lone figure of Gilardino posing their biggest threat. Frank Ribery anonymous in the first half and a shaky centre back partnership of van Buyten and Demichelis gave the Italian club hope, but half chances came and went.
Despite the home side’s inability to control midfield, Robben’s direct-runs and attempts to link up with Mario Gomez finally paid dividends as the home side won a penalty in first-half stoppage-time. Frank Ribery was fouled in the box by former Everton defender Per Kroldrup, as Gomez tucked away the loose ball. But the celebrations were cut short as referee Tom Henning Overbo had already pointed to the spot.
The manner in which the goal was conceded and the timing of it may have suggested that Fiorentina would struggle to find a way back in, but after half-time that is exactly what they did.
A goal arrived from Kroldrup in the 49th minute to give the away side a vital goal that their play deserved. A Fiorentina corner ran deep, hit Jovetic’s leg and found its way to the Danish defender who tuner to finish at the near post.
The much coveted Stevan Jovetic began to show glimpses of why he is one of Europe’s biggest prospects. A one-two with striker Gilardino almost led to a second goal seconds after an equaliser.
However, this marked the end of Fiorentina’s attacking intentions for the remainder of the game. The team in violet now had their focus on taking a draw away from the Allianz Arena.
Jovetic, a two goal hero against Liverpool in the group stages of this season’s competition is still a raw talent. His defending and tracking back are areas for improvement, as is his tackling. Predominately an attacking player, on more than one occasion the young starlet was guilty of giving away needless free-kicks. But this is certainly forgivable for a player making only his second start.
Bayern played some pretty football but failed to penetrate a determined Fiorentina defence frequently. A lack of movement appeared to be a problem due to the set-up of the away side; it was not until play reached the final third that Bayern really came to life.
Hitzfeld turned to Miroslav Klose and Olic in a bid to bring new life to a fading attack. The move paid off as Bayern began to apply more pressure and won successive corners. Although it was not until the sending off of Gobbi that the game really turned in the home-side’s favour.
Gaps now became more frequent in midfield as van Bommel and the ineffectual Schweinsteiger found more space. However, only Robben and Ribery were able to truly exploit a tiring Italian defence.
It appeared Bayern had wasted the chance to take a lead into the second leg when Klose failed to convert from 10 yards out after a pull back from Philip Lahm.
Not to fear the Norwegian officials contrived to find a winner by allowing Klose to score what can only be described as an unfair goal, which denied the Fiorentina players a draw that their determined and disciplined performance had deserved.
The German side will now enter the second leg as favourites with the opportunity to score away goals. Fiorentina can take heart from this match, and barring a repeat performance by the officials, should have the belief that they can turn this tie around.
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