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Bayern grateful for Toni return

FC Bayern München 1-0 CF Os Belenenses
Luca Toni's first-half strike was enough to earn the Bundesliga outfit a narrow victory against Belenenses.

Luca Toni made a scoring return for Bayern
Luca Toni made a scoring return for Bayern ©Getty Images

Toni goal
The Italy international had been doubtful to start due to ongoing thigh problems but with striker Miroslav Klose suspended for the first leg coach Ottmar Hitzfeld decided to play Toni. And he justified selection when he met Mark van Bommel's cross on 34 minutes for the only goal of the game.

Bayern domination
Toni could have given his side the lead after just five minutes when he was put through on goal by Marcell Jansen's threaded pass but the 30-year-old striker shot over the bar from nine metres. Jansen himself came close on 26 minutes when he headed wide but Toni soon broke the deadlock with his close-range strike. The hosts dominated possession throughout but did not make the most of their chances, Van Bommel's final pass for Franck Ribéry just lacking the requisite accuracy to put the Frenchman clear on goal.

Toothless
The second half followed in much the same vein as the first, though there were fewer openings following the substitution of Toni on the hour. Germany forward Lukas Podolski tried, in vain, to make the most of two half-chances, while summer signing Jan Schlaudraff, who was introduced for the final few minutes, had an uneventful debut, leaving the Bundesliga side facing the prospect of an uncomfortable trip to Portugal for the return leg on 4 October.

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