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Stylish Bayern too good for Beijing

25 July 2012-AFP

Bayern Munich trounced Beijing Guoan 6-0 in a friendly after the Chinese host fielded a second-string team which proved far inferior to the German giant.

Guoan got off to a nightmare start, with an own goal from defender Zhang Junzhe on eight minutes followed by a header from winger Arjen Robben two minutes later.

Guoan was already facing an uphill battle after head coach Jaime Pacheco decided to rest most of his first team squad against the UEFA Champions League finalist.

Pacheco's team - which is in fifth place in the Chinese Super League - will now concentrate on the upcoming fixture at Tianjin Teda on Saturday and a crucial cup game against Guizhou Renhe the following Wednesday.

The Bayern team was minus club captain Philipp Lahm and vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger who remained in Germany after coach Jupp Heynckes decided to rest them.

But the German side still had plenty of European stars on display at Beijing's Workers' Stadium.

France winger Franck Ribery and Robben terrorised the hapless Guoan defence with their trademark attacking runs into the box in the first half.

Robben created the first goal as he weaved into the penalty box from the right to tee-up Claudio Pizarro.

The Peruvian's tame shot bobbled tantalisingly in front of goal before it rebounded off the post and went in off Zhang.

Robben then turned from creator to scorer as he rose to head home from the far post. Pizarro made it three for the Bundesliga side two minutes before half-time.

Bayern brought all of its eight substitutes on for the second half, and after a brief period when Beijing gained some possession, the new players made an impact.

Germany international Thomas Muller was first to score after coming off the bench on 74 minutes, before Mario Mandzukic cooly slotted home from the edge of the penalty box after he was given time by the Guoan defence.

Mario Gomez then rounded off a blistering nine-minute spell for Bayern with a headed goal which came at the end of curling cross from Xherdan Shaqiri.

Bayern continues its pre-season preparations against fellow Bundelsiga side Wolfsburg in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Thursday.

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