After his goal, Thomas Müller apologizes to Leverkusen’s Hradecky
FC Bayern has ended its crisis impressively. After four games without a win, the record champions shot down Bayer Leverkusen. Thomas Müller was even visibly uncomfortable at the end. The outstanding man of the evening was once again Jamal Musiala.
In last season, Bayer Leverkusen came to Munich as second in the table. In 2022/2023, however, the signs were different. Both clubs are in an earnings crisis. This time the fifth met the 15th.
After the last four games without a win, coach Julian Nagelsmann, who had come under criticism, was relieved to celebrate a never-threatening 4-0 (3-0) win for his dominant team on Friday evening. Driven on by the brilliant Jamal Musiala, who was directly involved in three goals, FC Bayern stopped their negative run against a helpful opponent from Leverkusen.
However, as Musiala recalled, the crisis is not over yet, at most a step in the right direction has been taken: “It has to continue like this in the next games. But we did well,” said Bayern’s current top scorer with eleven points: “We have to bring more depth into our game. This creates space for other players. We were always looking for a one-two today.”
Congratulations: Jamal Musiala (left) and Alphonso Davies celebrate the 2-0 in their very own way
Source: dpa/Sven Hoppe
The offensive players Leroy Sané (3rd minute), Musiala (17th), Sadio Mané (39th) and Thomas Müller (84th) benefited from friendly support from the Werkself when they scored – in particular from goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky who made two mistakes.
Müller even immediately apologized to the pitiful goalkeeper, who had put the ball on Müller through an involuntary slip. He raised his left hand twice in the direction of the Finn in the Bayer goal.
Sorry, Lukas: Bayern’s Thomas Müller apologizes for the enforcement of the Leverkusen goalkeeper
Credit: AFP/CHRISTOF STACHE
The “knot burst” hoped for by Mané, which Nagelsmann had hoped for, was particularly celebrated, and he scored in front of 75,000 spectators for the first time in over a month.
FC Bayern second again for the time being
While the Munich side pushed BVB out of second place for at least one night a week before the Bundesliga bang at Borussia Dortmund, the situation for Leverkusen and coach Gerardo Seoane is getting dicey because of the slipping down to the relegation rank. Before the next league match day, both teams will continue to fight for the round of 16 tickets in the Champions League on Tuesday. FC Bayern is expecting Viktoria Pilsen, Leverkusen has to go to FC Porto.
Bayern looked like they had changed after the international break, and that wasn’t just because of their special Bordeaux red Oktoberfest jerseys. With clear body language and strong offensive actions from the start, the record champions dominated the game. Sané scored his third goal of the season after 149 seconds after assists from Joshua Kimmich and Musiala. The latter scored his fifth goal of the season a little later with the help of Hradecky – and Oliver Kahn must have been very satisfied.
“We’re here at Bayern Munich!”, The CEO had demanded shortly before kick-off at DAZN: “Here and today there is only one goal for the team – and that is a win.” The four games without one were bad contradicted the Munich self-image. On Friday evening, after just 20 minutes, the first master chants resounded through the arena. Even if leaders Union Berlin (Saturday at Eintracht Frankfurt) are still two points away.
Leverkusen practically didn’t take place at all in the first half hour. On the defensive, Seoane’s team was far too far away from Bayern, who were extremely fond of combining and playing. The 43-year-old Bayer coach could hardly find any arguments for the louder debate about his sporting future at the Werkself. Moussa Diaby only tested national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in the 34th minute.
After his corona infection, the Bayern keeper was different from Leon Goretzka, who also tested positive in the DFB selection and later came on as a substitute. The Bayern midfield was organized by the strong tackle Kimmich and Marcel Sabitzer, who shot over the goal after a good half hour (33rd). The 19-year-old youngster Musiala in particular provided the offensive shine – and then Mané scored for the first time in the home stadium and made Munich’s joy perfect.
The star signing, who has been unlucky in recent games, seemed to be looking for a pass from the edge of the penalty area, but then took aim from a standing start and was successful. The teammates immediately celebrated the goal – and again Kahn was right. “I’m absolutely convinced that Sadio will then show this executor quality,” predicted the Bayern boss. Mané had previously met in August. Coach Nagelsmann gave the Senegalese a warm hug when he was substituted (65′).
To prevent worse things from happening, Seoane strengthened the defense with two substitutions in the second half, but there was nothing to be seen at first. Bayern continued to come forward far too easily and into the Bayer penalty area. Hradecky defused attempts by Mané and Matthijs de Ligt within a few seconds (55′).
Mané’s supposed second goal in the 56th minute did not count because de Ligt had previously fouled Odilon Kossounou. The good Bayer chance through the substitute Amine Adli defused a little later Neuer (65th). But the game was already decided. Müller scored after a slip by the now unlucky Hradecky.
“We came here to win the game. Because Bayern was also in a crisis,” said Leverkusen midfielder Kerem Demirbay: “But they outperformed us in every respect and dominated. We are very, very negative. We need to be very clear about that. We have to do a lot more. Each individual, but also as a team.”
