Alaba makes comeback as Bayern ease past Al-Hilal
Doha - David Alaba made his long-awaited comeback from injury as FC Bayern München rounded off their mid-season training camp with a 4-1 victory over Al-Hilal FC in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola named a near full-strength XI at the King Fahd Stadium, but the opening goal of the game came from an unlikely source. Jerome Boateng set up fellow centre-back Dante to give the Bavarians the lead with just eight minutes on the clock, and Guardiola’s charges doubled their advantage soon after when Bastian Schweinsteiger volleyed in from a tight angle. Robert Lewandowski then headed home Arjen Robben’s cross to put Bayern firmly in the driving seat going into the second half.
Manuel Neuer, Xabi Alonso, Franck Ribery, Thomas Müller, Robben and Lewandowski were all withdrawn at the interval, but the Reds continued to dominate and extended their advantage just after the hour mark. Mitchell Weiser crossed for Claudio Pizarro, who headed past Abdullah Al Sudairi moments after Alaba had replaced Dante for his first appearance in over two months. Abdullaziz Al-Dawsari pulled a goal back for the Saudi Arabians in stoppage time, but Guardiola will be highly satisfied with his side’s display in their final friendly before returning to Germany on Sunday.
