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Played
March 31, 2012 2:30 PM BST
Grundig-Stadion — Nürnberg
Referee:‬ F. Zwayer‎
Attendance:‬ 48548‎
 
 
Arjen Robben 69′
Top of the Match
Arjen  Robben
Arjen Robben
FC Bayern München
Arjen  Robben
Arjen Robben
FC Bayern München
Flop of the Match
Adam  Hlousek
Adam Hlousek
Nürnberg
Danijel Pranjic
Danijel Pranjic
FC Bayern München

Nurnberg 0-1 Bayern Munich: Robben strike wins derby as visitors close gap on Dortmund

The Dutchman scored the only goal of the game as Jupp Heynckes' side secured their fourth consecutive league win to cut the gap at the top of the Bundesliga to just three points

By Tom Webber

FC Bayern München, Arjen Robben
Getty Images
Bayern Munich secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Nurnberg at the EasyCredit-Stadion on Saturday.

With the hosts providing stalwart opposition it took Bayern 69 minutes to find the net and the breakthrough came courtesy of Arjen Robben.

Neither team were able to take charge of the game early on and were seemingly highly laboured when on the ball.

Chances were limited in the first half but in the 15th minute Timothy Chandler whipped in a left-footed cross which eluded every Bayern defender. Adam Hlousek stole in behind Philipp Lahm but his connection was poor and Manuel Neuer saved comfortably.

Just moments later Holger Badstuber got on the end of Robben’s free kick from wide on the right but saw his header deflected over the bar.

Nurnberg were matching their visitors in all departments with the fantastic work rate of Timmy Simons and Hanno Balitsch in midfield heavily disrupting Bayern’s usually fluid attacking quartet.

Bayern’s best attacking move came in the 34th minute when a few slick passes ended at the feet of Danijel Pranjic on the left. The Croatian’s cross found an unmarked Robben in the box but the winger headed wide.

Just before the half-time interval Nurnberg almost put themselves ahead. Hlousek’s corner evaded a scrambling Neuer and was met by the head of Simons but he failed to turn his attempt on target.

It only took the visitors four minutes after the restart to test Raphael Schafer. Robben’s free kick was miscontrolled by Mario Gomez and fell to Thomas Muller. He snatched at the ball and sent his volley straight at Schafer.

With 10 minutes of the second half played, Heynckes signalled his intent to change the game by bringing on Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery in quick succession.

Bayern began to impose themselves on the game and a few moments after Muller had a goal ruled out for offside, the visitors took the lead with 69 minutes played.

Ribery latched onto Toni Kroos’ exquisite lofted pass but fired straight at Schafer. Fortunately for the Frenchman, Robben was on hand to fire the rebound into the bottom corner.

The visitors came close to adding another when Lahm clipped a great ball into the box after 87 minutes but Gomez's header rattled the bar.

The three points almost completely slipped away when Neuer failed to hold Almog Cohen's ambitious strike. The keeper was rescued by the frame of his own goal which kept the ball out of the net.

The victory means that Bayern close Borussia Dortmund’s advantage at the Bundesliga summit to just three points while Nurnberg fall down the table and join Freiburg in 12th position.


Nürnberg

1
Raphael Schäfer
Goalkeeper
2.50
6
Dominik Maroh
Defender
2.50
25
3.50
26
2.50
4
2.50
2
Timmy Simons
Midfielder
2.50
5
Hanno Balitsch
Midfielder
68′
2.50
7
Markus Feulner
Midfielder
2.50
10
Daniel Didavi
Midfielder
77′
2.50
23
Adam Hlousek
Midfielder
46′
2.50
9
Tomas Pekhart
Striker
2.50

FC Bayern München

2.50
1
Manuel Neuer
Goalkeeper
2.50
17
2.50
21
2.00
26
3.00
28
3.00
10
Arjen Robben
Midfielder
69′ 93′
2.50
23
2.50
39
Toni Kroos
Midfielder
80′
2.50
44
2.50
25
Thomas Müller
Midfielder
2.00
33

Substitutes

30
0.00
3
Per Nilsson
Defender
0.00
13
Jens Hegeler
Midfielder
0.00
14
Robert Mak
Midfielder
46′
2.50
17
Mike Frantz
Midfielder
0.00
-
Almog Cohen
Midfielder
68′
2.50
18
2.50

Substitutes

0.00
22
0.00
13
Rafinha
Defender
3.00
7
Franck Ribéry
Midfielder
57′
0.00
27
D. Alaba
Midfielder
2.50
30
2.50
31
0.00
11
Ivica Olic
Goalkeeper

Coach/Manager

-
0.00

Coach/Manager

0.00
-
 
  • Goal
  • Own Goal
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  • Penalty Missed
  • Yellow Card
  • Assist
  • Penalty Save
  • Penalty Shootout Goal
  • Penalty Shootout Miss
  • Yellow Card / Red Card
  • Red Card
  • Substitution IN
  • Substitution OUT
  • Injury
  • Goal.com Rating
  • Goal.com Man of the Match
  • Goal.com Flop of the Match
  • Top & Flop Global Ranking
  • Fans' Man of the Match
  • Fans' Flop of the Match
Results
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Stefan Kießling Stefan Kießling
Striker
Leverkusen
25 4
Robert  Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund
24 1
Alexander Meier Alexander Meier
Midfielder
Eintracht Frankfurt
17 3
Vedad Ibisevic Vedad Ibisevic
Striker
VfB Stuttgart
15 5
Mario Mandzukic Mario Mandzukic
Striker
Bayern
15 0