Bayern have emerged victorious from their second and final friendly match on the current tour of China. In a high-quality encounter with Bundesliga rivals VfL Wolfsburg in front of a 35,000 crowd at the Olympic Stadium in Guangzhou, FCB won Thursday evening’s Audi Football Summit 2-1 courtesy of first-half goals from Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben, Vaclav Pilar netting a stoppage-time consolation for VfL.
In steamy and oppressive sub-tropical conditions, and with Felix Magath’s Wolves bound to push his men all the way, Jupp Heynckes made just three changes - Luiz Gustavo for Tymoshchuk, Thomas Müller for Xherdan Shaqiri, and former VfL striker Mandzukic für Claudio Pizarro – to the side which started the 6-0 rout against Guoan Beijing two days earlier. Magath, celebrating his 59th birthday on the day, began with a line-up including ex-FCB favourite Ivica Olic.
Van Buyten the saviour
And it was Croatia hitman Ivi who ensured an explosive start to the match, as his second-minute header drew a fine goal-line clearance from FCB captain Daniel van Buyten. The Wolves kept up the pressure and Patrick Helmes shot wide from a decent position after eight minutes, but FCB eased their way into the game on the ten-minute mark and began to enjoy the better of the possession.
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