The early re-run of May’s DFB Cup final ended in holders Munich going through to this season’s third round by the skin of their teeth, thanks to a match-winning brace from Bastian Schweinsteiger. The two giants of the competition – apart from Werder and Bayern, only two other teams have won the famous trophy since 1998 – delivered an absorbing contest with periods of dominance for both sides.
The 64,000 crowd at the Allianz Arena saw former home hero Claudio Pizarro hand the visitors a shock lead after just two minutes, but Schweinsteiger levelled with the half-hour mark approaching. Bayern dominated until the hour, when Marko Arnautovic led a Bremen revival, only to himself squander three gilt-edged openings. Schweinsteiger administered the punishment with a stunner of a goal from fully 30 yards, and the holders preserved the lead through to the close with relative ease.
With a place in the last sixteen in the bag, the Bavarians now return their focus to the Bundesliga, where Freiburg visit Munich just three days from now on Friday.
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