Created on 16-08-2009 at 00:00 AM
Franck Ribéry was poised for his comeback, hopping from one foot to the other on the touchline, but the FCB superstar was forced to wait for some three minutes until there was finally a break in the play. Applause filled the ground and cries of “Ribéry-Ribéry-Ribéry” rang out from the sell-out Allianz Arena crowd, as the Frenchman was finally cleared to take over from José Sosa.
Ribéry had only been on the field for three minutes before showing exactly why he is so important to Bayern. Starting from the edge of the Werder box, he outfoxed Bremen and Germany defender Clemens Fritz before thrusting to the by-line and crossing hard and low to Ivica Olic. If Werder keeper Tim Wiese had not pulled out a brilliant reaction save from the Croat, Ribéry’s comeback would have featured an instant assist.
“I’m very happy,” Ribéry declared after a 28-minute appearance, his first club run-out of the new term. “I was delighted to be playing again, and I was really moved by the reception from the fans. That gave me a lot of confidence."