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Sunday 27 May RNW - News and analysis from the Netherlands in 10 languages, worldwide 24/7 on radio, television and online

Bayern win in Zurich to earn Champions League spot

Published on 23 August 2011 - 9:20pm
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A first-half goal from Germany striker Mario Gomez was enough to book Bayern Munich's place in the Champions League main draw on Tuesday as the German giants beat FC Zurich 1-0 in their play-off second leg clash to win 3-0 on aggregate.

Bayern will go in to Friday's draw as one of the ten play-off winners who join the 22 automatic entrants in the group-stage draw in Monaco.

Bayern - who are hoping to go all the way to the final which is being staged at their ground - join fellow German sides Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in the main draw.

Munich had few problems in Zurich as the hosts rarely troubled Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer while Munich barely got out of second gear.

Coach Jupp Heynckes started with eight members of the Germany side in his line-up but without fragile Dutch star Arjen Robben, who is struggling to over-come a back injury.

The Dutchman managed to score in Saturday's 5-0 drubbing of Hamburg last Saturday in the German league, but sat out on the bench in Switzerland.

Having lost Croatia striker Ivica Olic with a hip injury for up to eight weeks after the Hamburg victory, the Germans must wait to see if Gomez joins the walking wounded after he limped off on 46 minutes, clutching his hamstring.

When the opening goal came it had 'Made in Germany' stamped all over it as three of the national side combined to pretty much wrap up the tie.

A superb pass from Toni Kroos on the halfway line allowed team-mate Thomas Mueller to dart around his marker and sweep up field, before squaring to an unmarked Gomez who fired home on seven minutes.

It was a smooth move finished with a well-struck shot which gave Swiss goalkeeper Johnny Leoni no chance.

Even without Robben and Gomez, Bayern had the Swiss league runners-up on the back foot in the second-half as French winger Franck Ribery and Gomez's replacement Nils Petersen combined to create several chances, which all went begging.

© ANP/AFP

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