Schweinsteiger lauds set-piece masterstroke

Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger feels his team’s focus on set-pieces was key to their 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.

Simon Rolfes looked to have salvaged a point for Leverkusen when he equalised following Mario Gomez’s first-half strike.

But the runaway Bundesliga leaders left with three points when Philipp Wollscheid turned Schweinsteiger’s free-kick into his own net three minutes from time.

The Germany international was thrilled to have sealed the win against their determined hosts, but insisted the winning goal was down to coach Jupp Heynckes’ dead-ball tactics rather than good fortune.

“Here in Leverkusen, it is not easy to win. This is only the second home defeat for them,” Schweinsteiger told reporters after the match.

“We actually started quite well and played a good pressing game, always forcing long balls from Leverkusen. Then they came back because we made a few mistakes.

“In the end a goal from a set-piece decided the game. Jupp Heynckes had previously told us exactly how we have to play the ball.”

The result maintains Bayern’s 20-point lead at the top of the Bundesliga, while Leverkusen remain third, four points adrift of Borussia Dortmund.