Schweinsteiger turns tables on Basel

Bastian Schweinsteiger struck with a minute left to earn FC Bayern München a 2-1 win at FC Basel 1893 as last season's UEFA Champions League finalists made it two Group E wins in as many outings.

It was the German international's second goal of the night and turned the match on its head after Alexander Frei had opened the scoring against the run of play on 18 minutes. The Bundesliga champions have endured a lean spell in front of goal but they got back into it through Schweinsteiger's penalty 11 minutes into the second half, setting up a tense finale.

The tempo was swift from the kick-off as both sides went in search of an early goal, before Bayern began to take hold of proceedings as the game settled. The first real chance fell to Toni Kroos, whose low strike drew an excellent one-handed save from Franco Costanzo.

Daniel Van Buyten blazed a volley over shortly afterwards and as the pressure mounted, it seemed the hosts were in for a long night. However, the evening took an unexpected twist on 18 minutes when Basel's strike duo combined for a fine opener. Having raced into the area, Marco Streller left Van Buyten standing with a lovely back-heel and the on-rushing Frei curled a sumptuous finish past the helpless Jörg Butt.

As the first half wore on Bayern struggled to muster a response with Basel growing in confidence. Xherdan Shaqiri's fierce drive was parried by Butt, while Mark van Bommel's shot from distance was the closest the Bavarian side came before the break. Their fortunes improved after the interval when Thomas Müller was felled in the box by Benjamin Huggel. Schweinsteiger calmly slotted in the resulting penalty to level the scores.

Bayern coach Louis van Gaal attempted to boost his attack with the introductions of Mario Gómez and Ivica Olić, though neither managed to force in a teasing cross from Philipp Lahm on 68 minutes. Streller was denied by Butt's quick reactions and Gilles Yapi went close with a curling effort, but heading into the latter stages it was the away side who looked more likely to snatch victory.

Müller and Olić looked to have sent Bayern's last two chances sailing into the stands late on, but up popped Schweinsteiger to convert Danijel Pranjić's free-kick and give Bayern all three points while handing Basel a second straight defeat.