Bayern steal point in Italy

Mutu: Opened the scoring

Related links

Teams

• Bayern Munich
• Fiorentina

Also see

• Watch games on your PC
• Champions League on Sky Sports
• Win Champions League tickets

Fiorentina failed to capitalise on the chances they created and in the end it was Bayern Munich who looked the likelier to take all three points as Tim Borowski cancelled out Adrian Mutu's opener for the home side.

Fiorentina knew that a victory was a must with just two points to show for their efforts in the UEFA Champions League this season, while three points for Bayern Munich would all but secure their passage into the last 16.

It was the home side who started the brighter and they could have been awarded a penalty when Martin Demichelis tugged at Alberto Gilardino's shirt but the offence went unnoticed by the referee.

The home side did not have to wait long for justice to prevail as they deservedly took the lead after just 10 minutes.

Luciano Zauri got free down the right and crossed for Gilardino. The Italian delicately flicked the ball on for strike partner Mutu who emphatically volleyed home from 10 yards.

Fiorentina were finding space down the flanks and they could have doubled their lead on 19 minutes when Massimo Gobbi's cross from the left was met by Gilardino but his effort was comfortably saved by Michael Reinsing in the Bayern goal.

Reinsing was tested again shortly after when Mario Alberto Santana crossed from the right and it was Gilardino again who met the cross only to see his header saved well by Reinsing who got down well to his left.

After their slow start Bayern began to assert themselves with Frank Ribery looking the likeliest to make a breakthrough.

Frustrated

Despite their possession the visitors were left frustrated by a well organised Fiorentina defence and Bayern were restricted to long range efforts that left Sebastian Frey in the Fiorentina goal a virtual spectator.

That should have changed in the 42nd minute when Bayern skipper Mark Van Bommel burst forward and slipped in an unmarked Bastian Schweinsteiger on the right hand corner of the penalty area but his shot lacked conviction and Frey was able to see it wide at his near post.

The second period saw both sides start brightly and Fiorentina could have gone 2-0 up when the busy Gilardino beat Lucio and the on-rushing Reinsing to the ball after a long punt up field but his lob bounced on top of the netting.

It was Bayern's turn to threaten a minute later when Lucio's surging run from centre-half found Lukas Podolski on the left. Podolski's cross was met by Miroslav Klose who managed to get across his marker but he couldn't steer the ball goalwards.

Fiorentina were on the attack again on 55 minutes when Santana's cross from the right found Mutu free in the area but the striker's header went over the bar with Reinsing rooted to the spot.

Bayern forced Frey to make his first real save in the 68th minute when Podolski was sent free and he fired hard and low across goal forcing Frey to parry but luckily Klose was slow off the mark and the home side were able to clear.

The Germans were level however on 78 minutes when Ribery cut inside from the left and his pass was defected into the path of Borowski, who was given all the time in the world to slot past Frey from the centre of the goal.

If the equaliser was harsh on the hosts then a winner from the away side would have been criminal and Bayern should have snatched one a minute later when Klose chested down a high ball and raced away from Dario Dainelli to go one on one with Frey but his effort went high and wide.