UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E: CFR Cluj 0 Bayern Munich 4:BAYERN MUNICH striker Mario Gomez scored a hat-trick to steer the German champions to a four-goal win at CFR Cluj and into the round of 16 with two games to spare last night.
Gomez, usually left on the bench, made the most of his rare chance to start in the absence of the injured Miroslav Klose, scoring on the rebound in the 12th minute and heading in his second goal 12 minutes later.
He added a third in the 71st minute from inside the area before substitute Thomas Mueller scored in the final minute to seal Bayern’s fourth consecutive win in Group E that left them top on 12 points.
Cluj, who hit the post twice in the second half, are in last place on three points from four games.
Bayern travelled to Romania with only 15 players in their squad due to their list of injured players.
Coach Louis van Gaal opted to play Bastian Schweinsteiger in a more offensive role and the gamble paid off with the holding midfielder involved in all three goals.
The visitors took the lead through Gomez after Cluj goalkeeper Eduard Stancioiu spectacularly saved a shot by Andreas Ottl who was set up by Schweinsteiger.
Schweinsteiger then prepared Gomez’ second goal, cleverly heading on a Hamit Altintop deep cross to the far post for the Germany international to nod in.
He then sent Gomez through with a pin-point pass in the 71st minute to slot in his third.
Mueller rounded off the Germans’ victory, pouncing on a defensive blunder to score in the final minute.
FC Basel 2
(Frei 69, Shaqiri 83)
AS Roma 3
(Menez 16, Totti 26 pen, Greco 76)
AS ROMA scored twice in the opening half-hour to set up a win away to FC Basel which avenged their home defeat by the Swiss team two weeks ago.
A well-taken goal by Jeremy Menez and a Francesco Totti penalty put the Italians in control of the match until Alexander Frei headed one back for the Swiss in the 69th minute.
Substitute Leandro Greco restored Roma’s two-goal advantage in the 76th minute but Xherdan Shaqiri set up a rousing finish by replying for Basel with seven minutes of the game remaining.
Roma have six points from four games and Basel three.
