Fiorentina vs. FC Bayern Munich: 11 Conclusions From The Match

Bayern sneaked in through the back door to the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the second year running. However, the style in which they did so was quite astonishing.

To give everybody a background, Fiorentina won the game 3-2 thanks to a double from Stevan Jovetic and another goal from Juan Vargas but Bayern made it through due to away goals from Mark Van Bommel and Arjen Robben.

The Conclusions

1. Daniel Van Buyten either had plenty of coffee on Monday night to stay awake and watch a movie or he just forgot to show up for the tie. Last night, not too many fans were happy with the performance of the Belgian defender. He can be blamed partially for all the goals that Bayern conceded during the game.

Holger Badstuber on the other hand passed the ball to Marchionni in the first half. Marchionni struck the ball towards the Bayern goal. The shot was parried by Hans- Jorg Butt and eventually found its way to Juan Vargas, who blasted it into the goal. Almost each of his clearances led to throw-ins for Fiorentina.

2. A 17-year-old youngster outdid Philipp Lahm, Holger Badstuber and van Buyten yesterday. This 17-year-old was David Alaba, making his debut in the Champions League. He is a midfielder by trade, but Louis Van Gaal made him play as a left back last night for La Viola.

The Fiorentina skipper can either be called intelligent or courageous. He is probably intelligent, as he did the same with Diego Contento in the first leg which proved to be a wonderful decision.

3. Mark Van Bommel does not wear captain's armband for Bayern by accident despite all the criticism he receives. Last night, he proved why he is the perfect man for the job. His long balls weren't the best, but his strike had class written all over.

When Franck Ribery passed the ball to Van Bommel, the Bayern fans thought he would blast it over the post. Instead, he calmly slotted it into the net from outside the penalty area and started the fight back.

4. Bayern are simply half the team without Robben and Ribery. Last night, the two wingers caused havoc and left tottering Fiorentina defenders in their wake. Robben's wonderstrike only 72 seconds after Fiorentina's third goal is the reason why Bayern are still in the competition.

5. Miroslav Klose will finally be leading the line for Bayern unless of course, Van Gaal opts for Ivica Olic. Mario Gomez injured himself and had to be substituted only half an hour into the game. Klose didn't have much of the ball but still managed to trouble the Fiorentina central defensive pairing all night long.

6. Bayern are brilliant in attack but worse than Wigan in defense in the Champions League. The defense looked shaky all night long and if Bayern meet Barcelona in the quarters, expect them to go down 10-4 on  aggregate because of that defense. I am not sure that Martin Demichelis would have improved the situation by much but would definitely have done a better job than the Belgian bull, Van Buyten.

7. Fiorentina, especially Stevan Jovetic and Marchionni played very well last night. There real undoing was a slight glitch in their tactics. They were defending the wings all night and Bayern at times decided to switch play to the centre. Bayern's goals were both scored from the centre of the pitch.

8. Hans-Jorg Butt might be blamed for the first goal. In reality, however, he saved Bayern's blushes. The point blank save that he made from Alberto Gilardino in the second half after Van Buyten and Badstuber had both missed the ball swung the tie in Bayern's favour. Had that got in, I doubt whether Bayern would have found a way back into the game.

Also, the first goal which Butt conceded forced Bayern to open up and play good football rather than merely send in long balls to the front men.

9. The Fiorentina fans expressed their unhappiness by labelling the Bayern players as "thieves" following the game. What they shouldn't forget is Bayern didn't rob them of a place in the last eight. Miro Klose's offside goal was cancelled out in a way by Jovetic's first today. Alberto Gilardino was offside when he played the ball to Jovetic to finish off the chance. Also, the Bayern defense gave them enough chances to progress.

If the fans have to blame someone then they can blame themselves and Tom Henning Ovrebo. They should have more respect for the opposition. Sections of the crowd were even booing at Alaba to make him nervous. The Allianz Arena crowd would never do such a thing.

10. Bastian Schweinstieger must have been cursing himself after the game. He blatantly brushed  Jovetic in the face in the first half and got a yellow card. He will miss the first leg of the quarterfinals. If Bayern meets a very good attacking side, Schweini's presence will be missed.

11. This match could be looked at in a negative manner by Bayern due to the comedy of errors in defense. However, a big positive point came out of the game. With a little spirit and some individual talent, anything is possible. Almost every Bayern supporter must have thought that their team was down and out, but they fought back and claimed their spot in the last eight.

Do you agree with my views? Your comments are most definitely welcome.