VFour days after the end of the treble dream, FC Bayern Munich scored an important victory in the Bundesliga title fight. The record champions showed a reaction to the 1: 2 in the quarterfinals of the DFB Cup when they met SC Freiburg again on Saturday and won 1: 0 (0: 0) in Breisgau. Central defender Matthijs de Ligt scored the winning goal (51st minute) in a game in which Bayern struggled for long stretches.
In the table, Munich maintained the lead in front of Borussia Dortmund. Despite the setback, Freiburg are still on course for the European Cup. Coach Christian Streich’s team suffered their first defeat after seven unbeaten league games in a row.
In the first away game under the direction of coach Thomas Tuchel, the Munich team continued the changeable performances of the previous weeks. Julian Nagelsmann’s successor had explained in advance that his team was under “pressure” after the cup exit and that his pros “definitely wanted to give an answer” after the defeat against the Sport-Club last Tuesday.
However, Bayern, who had changed four positions, struggled despite their dominant appearance. It was foreseeable that they would have more possession against the Sport-Club. But once again the last pass was often too imprecise. Before the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League at Manchester City on Tuesday, there was not much lightness to be seen.
To make matters worse, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, the club’s second-best shooter, was missing due to knee problems. Tuchel ordered Serge Gnabry to the top instead of the national player from Cameroon. The 27-year-old failed with a header from SC keeper Mark Flekken, who responded brilliantly (9′). A little later Sadio Mané lifted the ball past the goal.
But Freiburg coach Streich was not dissatisfied with the performance of his team. With a mischievous smile, he applauded in his coaching zone after a cross from Christian Günter, which, however, found no takers. Streich’s mood worsened when he had to replace Manuel Gulde, who had injured his thigh (36′). Just before the break, Ritsu Doan (44th) had the best chance for the hosts.
Prominent grandstand guests in Freiburg: Joachim Löw (left) and Marcus Sorg
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Image: Reuters
Joshua Kimmich had hoped that he and his teammates would “play more emotionally” again. However, the Munich team, who had always moved up a long way, lacked the penetrating power even after the change of sides. Rarely able to combine into the penalty area, de Ligt tried the crowbar. The Dutchman was not attacked and gave his compatriot Flekken no chance to defend the winning goal with a shot from a long distance.
Bayern were closer to the second goal in the closing stages. However, they rarely managed to put the home side’s compact defense under pressure. Leroy Sané countered over the goal and Gnabry failed on the post in injury time. But Sommer also had to intervene again against Roland Sallai to ensure victory (73′).
It got emotional after the end of the game when Joshua Kimmich provocatively celebrated the victory in front of the SC attachment. The national player thus triggered a pack formation that the referees had trouble reconciling.
