Stocker’s shocker for Bayern

Published on Thursday 23 February 2012 02:43

Swiss side Basel pulled off another huge Champions League upset with a 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich last night to move within sight of the quarter-finals.

But the German giants will be confident of overturning the deficit in the second leg in Bavaria on Tuesday 13 March.

Substitute Valentin Stocker snatched the winner for the Swiss champions in the 86th minute with a shot which went through Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer’s legs.

The Munich side had survived two early let-offs in the first leg of the last 16 tie as Aleksandar Dragovic and Alexander Frei both struck the woodwork for Basel, whose attacking style accounted for Manchester United in the group phase. The result was another blow for Bayern, who have suffered a loss of form in the Bundesliga and dropped four points behind leaders Borussia Dortmund.

Andre Ayew rose to head home a corner deep into injury time as Marseille beat Internazionale 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash.

Inter, the Champions League winners under Jose Mourinho in 2010, had grown in confidence as the second half wore on, but struggled to carve out clear-cut chances against a well-organized Marseille team which lacked invention and a cutting edge up front.

Claudio Ranieri’s team looked to have done enough to secure a draw, but Ayew timed his run perfectly to head the ball past goalkeeper Julio Cesar’s outstretched hand to condemn the Italian side to their sixth defeat in seven games.

Diego Forlan had Inter’s best opportunity early in the match when he forced the French side’s goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to tip the ball over the crossbar from close range.

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