Created on 26-09-2009 at 00:00 AM
Bayern suffered a second defeat of the Bundesliga season on Saturday evening, Hamburg striker Mladen Petric’ second-half goal separating the sides in an enthralling encounter between two of the league’s leading clubs.
The 57,000 capacity crowd at the HSH-Nordbank Arena saw an absorbing first half between two inventive but disciplined sides, although chances were few and far between and the game remained goalless at half-time. The game was evenly-balanced for a long spell after the restart, before Petric broke the deadlock 20 minutes from time with what proved to be the winning goal.
Louis van Gaal made seven changes to the team which beat Oberhausen in the cup last Tuesday, restoring most of the regulars who were rested for the midweek tie. Far less predictable was Van Gaal’s daring tactical switch to a 3-4-3 formation, retaining an attacking edge while countering Hamburg’s potential man over in midfield.
The three-man rearguard comprised Daniel van Buyten, Holger Badstuber and Breno, making his first appearance of the season, with stand-in captain Philipp Lahm pushed forward into the right of midfield. Up front, Franck Ribery and Arjen Müller started together for the first time, with former HSV hero Ivica Olic preferred to both Miro Klose and Mario Gomez at centre-forward.