Bayern Vs Fiorentina: Five Talking Points; Six Observations and Ovrebo

Bayern beat Fiorentina 2-1 in a chilly night in Bavaria. The nature of the win was ugly to say the least. Most fans remember last season's Chelsea-Barcelona clash at the Bridge. Most Italian fans will remember this one. The referee for this match was none other than Tom Henning Ovrebo.

To give everyone a background to the match, Arjen Robben opened the scoring with a penalty at the end of the first half. Fiorentina equalized early in the second half through Per Kroldrup. Miro Klose scored the winner in the 89th minute from an offside position.

Talking Points:

1. Mark Van Bommel started the game in sloppy fashion. Van Bommel is intimidating and rather vicious at times. He fouled Viola captain Riccardo Montolivo in the first half. The referee gave Van Bommel a yellow card. Montolivo hobbled his way through the match until he was substituted in the second half.

Should Van Bommel have been sent off?

Initially the challenge didn't look too bad. Montolivo's state following the challenge and the replay confirmed that Van Bommel might have been sent off. The yellow card was deserved but I wouldn't be surprised if Bayern would have been down to ten early at the Allianz Arena.

2. Massimo Gobbi was sent off in the second half for a body check on Arjen Robben. He endured a terrible night against the flying Dutch man. He elbowed Robben close to the winger's face. The Italians felt hard done by this decision, especially as Fiorentina had matched Bayern and defended well until then.

Should Gobbi have been sent off?

Gobbi might have broken Robben's jaw. A yellow card might have been just according to the Italians but the challenge was bad enough for him to be asked to leave the field.

3.The most controversial man on the pitch was Miroslav Klose. He came on in the 62nd minute and turned the game on its head but for all the wrong reasons. He started off with a nice header. However, Per Kroldrup was the victim of a harsh challenge from the German. The Polish-born striker was nowhere close to the ball.

Should Miroslav Klose have been sent off?

The referee dished out a yellow card but Klose, on another day would have joined Massimo Gobbi in the shower.

During the 89th minute of the match, Arjen Robben blasted a shot goalwards. Klose had made a run inside the box and he was onside. The ball was parried by the keeper and eventually ended up with Ivica Olic. Klose had not gotten back and was in an offside position. Olic headed the ball to him and he duly headed it into the goal.

Should the goal have stood and can the linesman be blamed?

The goal shouldn't have stood but because Klose was previously onside, the linesman can't really be blamed. Mr Ovrebo let the goal stand after consultation with his linesman.

4. In the first half, Arjen Robben played a pass to Franck Ribery. Ribery was fouled in the box by Per Kroldrup. Mario Gomez then put the ball into the back of the net. Tom Ovrebo did not allow the goal to stand. Instead he whistled for the penalty and Arjen Robben duly converted from the spot.

Should Mario Gomez's goal have stood?

It should have stood as the advantage was with the attacking side. This would have been a big issue had Robben missed.

5. Ivica Olic and Miro Klose came on for Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller and did more than the other two had previously done. Gomez had a pretty good game while Muller wasn't allowed into it.

Should Louis Van Gaal stick to these two forwards for the return leg?

Shortly after the two came on, Gobbi was sent off. It is hard to judge their impact as a result. They did marginally better though and should be allowed to start the second leg on March 9th.

Observations:

1. Stevan Jovetic is a very good player. He was perhaps the best player in a violet shirt in an attacking sense. Europe's best clubs will be after him sooner or later. He caused problems to the Bayern defence and could have scored a goal or two.

2. Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are the main reasons behind Bayern's victory. Robben was better than Ribery and they both together broke down Fiorentina. Arjen Robben was duly awarded the man of the match award.

3. Bastian Schweinsteiger is a good defensive midfielder. He didn't lose possession too many times. He didn't play too many wonderful balls; however he had a clean performance. Time and time again he helped out the defence and made some important interceptions.

4. Holger Badstuber and Diego Contento deserve plenty of credit. Daniel van Buyten and Martin Demichelis did their best to allow a Fiorentina goal Badstuber and Lahm both kept their heads down and played well defensively.

Van Buyten was subbed and Diego Contento was brought on for his Champions League debut. I initially thought that Van Buyten had been taken off due to his horrendous errors. He was taken off because he was injured. Contento has vision and this was clearly visible. The best part about him is that he is a Bayern youth product.

5. Fiorentina set out to play an ugly match. Their tactics were brilliant though. They marked down Robben and Ribery and kept Thomas Muller out of the game.

They were very good on the counter and were unlucky not to get an early goal due to Gilardino's slip. They took advantage of Bayern's stagnant defence when Per Kroldrup scored early in the second half.

They played very physically. Lorenzo De Silvestri was very physical and his carelessness led to Badstuber's nose bleed in the first half.

6. Bayern despite their horrendous performance might have scored three or four goals tonight. Thomas Muller missed a brilliant chance.

Arjen Robben went for two chances himself instead of squaring to a team mate and wasted them while Klose and Olic got tangled up and failed to blast the ball into the back of the net before the controversial goal.

In spite of Fiorentina's brilliance, Bayern should have ended the tie and might suffer in the second leg. The second leg promises to be a tasty and fair clash.

Just to make a point, Miro Klose couldn't have gone and begged the referee not to award Bayern the goal. He wasn't sure he was offside and he did what he was supposed to do. This is what he had to say about the goal:

"My instinct told me that I was offside, but it was only when I saw the television pictures that I was sure of it."

What do you think about the points raised in this article?

Your comments on Mr Ovrebo and the points of discussion and observation are definitely welcome.