After 77 minutes of Sunday's match at the Allianz Arena, the fourth official displayed the substitution board showing the numbers 31 and 8, indicating that Bastian Schweinsteiger was giving way to Javi Martinez. The crowd rose, Schweinsteiger embraced his new team-mate, and birthday boy Martinez strode out to warm applause. The Spaniard was beaming afterwards: “It's all really impressive and very emotional, this club, this team. Just fantastic."
It was a moving evening for Schweinsteiger too, as the FCB vice-captain started a match for his club for the first time since the Champions League final against Chelsea. And he was close to his best as well, adroitly directing the play in midfield. “I'm especially pleased for Bastian, who played really well," said Jupp Heynckes, “what I've picked up tells me that Bayern can only be very successful with a very good Schweinsteiger."
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