This time no river score as in the inaugural 4-0 victory against Atletico Madrid or certain corrections inflicted in the Bundesliga: the Germans were jostled by Muscovites without complexes, pushed by 10,000 supporters.
We were waiting for the first goal in C1 from Robert Lewandowski, top scorer of the last edition (15 goals) and author of a hat-trick last weekend against Frankfurt, but it was the precious midfielders Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich who allowed the Germans to sign a second success. A result to also be credited to the French Corentin Tolisso and Benjamin Pavard, very visible throughout the game.
Authors of a better start, the vice-champions of Russia obtained the first opportunity with a header from Feder Smolov, forgotten by the Bavarian defense, finally captured by Manuel Neuer (3rd).
Five minutes later, Bayern obtained a similar situation, but Lewandowski’s head this time passed next to the Russian cage (8th).
The third head ended up in the back of the net thanks to the good connection of the French Corentin Tolisso and Benjamin Pavard. The first sent a superb cross to the second who, in extension and without control, placed the ball on the head of Leon Goretzka, author of his second goal in this C1 (13th, 1-0).
Bis repeated or almost in the 25th minute: Tolisso shifted Pavard again, whose first-line reset this time found a third Frenchman, Kingsley Coman, but his recovery from the right failed on the left upright.
Just before the break, the Russians tried to react but Daniil Kulikov’s shot (42nd) was kicked for a corner by Neuer with his fingertips.
Kimmich savior
In the second period, Pavard and Tolisso again demonstrated their good understanding. The side, still unchecked, found the midfielder, who however failed to worry the Lokomotiv goalkeeper.
In the 63rd minute, Lewandowski, mown at the entrance to the area by Kulikov believed he could open his counter but after whistling a penalty, the referee finally reconsidered his decision with the help of the VAR because of a German fault upstream.
Double scorer against Atletico (4-0), Coman missed the opportunity to kill the match by sending his shot coiled above (69th) before giving way to Douglas Costa.
By dint of missed opportunities, the Germans were punished by Anton Miranchuk, quicker than the Bavarian defense to adjust Neuer closely (71st, 1-1).
After several Moscow alerts, the deliverance finally came from Kimmich who, after lifting the ball, unleashed a victorious strike from 20 meters (79th, 2-1).
A last long attempt by Grzegorz Krychowiak gave the Bavarians some further scares in added time.
But the essential is done for Bayern who have a thirteenth consecutive victory in C1, not the most impressive, but which allows them to lead their group with six points before a trip to Salzburg in early November.
