FC Bayern Munich has let its feared opponent steal points again.
After the final whistle, Yann Sommer laughed and shook hands with the Bayern stars, whom he had driven to despair on his creamy day. For 90 minutes, the sensationally strong goalkeeper from Borussia Mönchengladbach dived after the approaching balls, he flew, he punched, in the sixth minute of added time he cleared a high pass on the edge of the penalty area with his foot.
If Borussia Mönchengladbach is Bayern Munich’s feared opponent, then Sommer was the bogeyman in person at 1-1 (1-0).
75,000 spectators watched in amazement at the one-man show in the Allianz Arena. Only when it seemed absolutely impossible to push the ball past Yann Sommer into a goal that was at least 7.32 meters wide did Leroy Sané (83rd) succeed. Sommer accepted it – and he flew on.
“Here you need a goalkeeper who sometimes holds the unsustainable things. That was world class,” said Gladbach’s sports director Roland Virkus on “Sky”. “That’s the only way you can score here. Everyone really threw everything in. And we were a bit lucky too.”
FC Bayern remains leaders
Munich, who had set a start record, remain leaders despite the first setback of the season, tied with Union Berlin (both 10). Gladbach took the lead with Marcus Thuram’s first chance to score in the 43rd minute: Dayot Upamecano had failed.
Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann chose Kingsley Coman and Sané instead of Jamal Musiala and Serge Gnabry when he was “spoiled for choice”. Alphonso Davies also replaced Matthijs de Ligt in defence.
Nagelsmann emphasized that he could assure “that our players are not afraid of any opponent”. Bayern got going: After a few seconds, Upamecano forced Sommer to make the first brilliant save. The Munich remained oppressively superior.
Upamecano blunders, Gladbach ice cold
There was excitement after 15 minutes when three climate activists stormed the field and tried to tie themselves to the goalposts. They were led out of the stadium.
The short break didn’t change the course of the game. Gladbach, who defended passionately, could hardly breathe. Sané, who had been conspicuous until then, had the best chance for Bayern, whose volley just missed the target (30′).
So the Gladbach leadership fell out of nowhere. Upamecano was the last man to frivolously fritter away the ball. Thuram didn’t let the gift slip away after a solo.
Sané redeems FC Bayern
After the change, the Bayern fans set off fireworks, which is why there was another short break. On the other hand, there were no fireworks on the pitch: Bayern only became really dangerous after an hour, when first Sadio Mané failed twice free-standing to Sommer, followed shortly afterwards by Sané.
Nagelsmann reacted and brought Musiala and Gnabry (68th). Angry attacks from the hosts followed. But Gnabry, Thomas Müller and Benjamin Pavard also found their match in Sommer. Only Sané broke the spell. In added time, Sommer made another spectacular save against de Ligt.
