First Title of Many?
July 29, 2007
After a disappointing fourth-place league finish last season, Germany striker Miroslav Klose netted the winner on Saturday as Bayern Munich defeated Schalke and claimed the German preseason title.
Klose, one of Munich's major summer newcomers, was on target just before the half-hour mark, tapping into the empty net after confusion in the Schalke defense.
Munich dominated the match in Leipzig and even without their other big-name newcomers, including injured France winger Franck Ribery and Italy forward Luca Toni, the Bavarians showed the creativity and style many observers said the side lacked last season.
"We laid down our marker that we're back," said Bayern coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Spending spree
Bayern laid down much more than a marker over the Bundesliga's summer break. Munich went on an unprecedented spending spree after coming only fourth last season, dishing out 70 million euros ($95 million) for new players.
"We've now got a team that we hoped to have," Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn said. "It'll take a while until we find the best lineup."
Bayern won the six-team League Cup, an unofficial pre-season event, by beating all three teams ranked ahead of them in the last Bundesliga season: league champions VfB Stuttgart, Schalke and Werder Bremen.
"Favorites for all the titles"
"If you have the chance to get a title you should win it," said coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. " It's good to beat all three teams that were ahead of us, one after another."
Bayern also claimed the Bundesliga title the last four times they won the League Cup, which has been fought over for 11 years.
"This team is an attraction for the Bundesliga," said Matthias Sammer, the German soccer Association (DFB) sport director said of Bayern. "They're the favorites for all the titles."
The German season kicks off next week with the first round of the German Cup and the Bundesliga start set for Aug. 10.