Created on 12-01-2013 at 00:00 AM
The Bundesliga restart is coming ever closer – and Bayern’s form is looking ever sharper with each warm-up match, as Jupp Heynckes’ near full-strength side made short work of Swiss champions FC Basel in a one-sided friendly on Saturday afternoon. Mario Mandzukic, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Franck Ribery scored the goals before half-time as the Germans eased to a routine 3-0 victory.
Heynckes made a single change to the team which thumped Schalke 5-0 in the midweek friendly at the end of the Qatar training camp, restoring Manuel Neuer in goal in place of Tom Starke. FCB started with Philipp Lahm, Daniel van Buyten, Dante and David Alaba in defence, Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez in central midfield, Thomas Müller and Ribery out wide, and Toni Kroos tucked in behind Mandzukic. The match itself was a part of the deal taking Xherdan Shaqiri to Munich last summer, but on his return to his former stamping ground, the former Basel man started on the bench.