FC Bayern Munich won in the Bundesliga against feared opponents Borussia Mönchengladbach and is ready for the top game at Bayer Leverkusen next week.
Bayern deservedly defeated Gladbach 3-1 (1-1) on Saturday (February 3, 2024) in the arena, which was sold out with 75,000 spectators. Nico Elvedi (35th minute) gave VfL a somewhat surprising lead, while Bayern youngster Aleksandar Pavlović (45th) equalized shortly before half-time. Top scorer Harry Kane (70th) with his 24th goal of the season and Matthijs de Ligt (86th) produced the final result.
The Munich team remains two points behind leaders Bayer Leverkusen. “It was a very important victory,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel in an interview with ARD radio: “Compliments to my team.” Borussia remains in the lower middle of the table. Gladbach’s coach Gerardo Seoane said in an interview with ARD radio that he had “mixed feelings” after this game.
Angstgegner Mönchengladbach
The chances of Gladbach being successful were actually not bad. After the 2016/17 season, the “Foals” had always scored three or four points against Munich every season. After the 1:2 in the first leg, statistically a three-pointer would have been predicted for VfL. In addition, no club has scored more points against FCB in the last twelve years than Gladbach, namely 35 with ten wins, ten draws and ten defeats. Mönchengladbach is a kind of feared opponent for Bayern. But this time things turned out differently.
Thomas Klinger, Sportschau, February 3rd, 2024 6:13 p.m
Huge opportunities for Bayern’s Sané
After league leaders Bayer Leverkusen dropped points last weekend against coach Gerardo Seoane’s team in a 0-0 draw, FCB was back within striking distance of the leaders, two points behind. And the Munich team made a lot of noise right from the start. Leroy Sané missed the early lead in the fifth minute when he hit the underside of the crossbar from 13 meters after work from Harry Kane and Noussair Mazraoui. Five minutes later, Thomas Müller, who was in the starting line-up for the injured Kingsley Coman, fed Sané in front of the five-pointer – this time the Munich player poked the ball just past the left post.
Bayern dominated the game, Borussia hardly had any relief attacks in the first half hour, let alone any chances to score. After a quarter of an hour, the “Foals” were able to take a quick breather when fans once again rained gold coins onto the field in protest over the DFL’s planned investor deal. The goal shooting ratio of 6:0 from Bayern’s perspective after 20 minutes expressed the superiority of Thomas Tuchel’s team, who was sitting on the sidelines after recovering from a viral infection.
Thomas Klinger, Sportschau, February 3rd, 2024 6:10 p.m
Gladbach’s Neuhaus misses the lead, Elvedi scores
It was a game of patience for Bayern, who were not cool enough in front of the goal. In addition, the defense of Borussia FCB’s top scorer Kane was initially well under control – until the Englishman curled a free kick from around 20 meters towards the goal in the 31st minute, which VfL goalkeeper Moritz Nicolas brilliantly wiped over the crossbar. Jordan Siebatcheu then headed the ball wide of the goal from a promising position. Then Munich’s poor exploitation of opportunities took its revenge. De Ligt (33′) cleared a shot from the edge of the penalty area before the line. Two minutes later, FCB goalkeeper Manuel Neuer missed a pass forward to Thomas Müller. Elvedi splashed in and pushed the ball in from 14 meters after a one-two with Jordan.
When Gladbach seemed to be taking the lead at half-time, FCB struck back. After preparatory work by Sané and Müller, Pavlović chased the ball from the right five-point corner into the left corner of the goal.
FCB-Zugang Boey celebrates his debut
Would FC Bayern really turn things up after the break? Gladbach’s Luca Netz had the first chance (47th), his double deflected ball rolled out of the goal. Shortly afterwards, Jamal Musiala left several Borussia players standing, but only hit the side netting. The “Foals” played the game more evenly than at the beginning of the first half. Immediately after Sacha Boey (62nd) made his debut in the Munich jersey, Nicolas parried a shot from Kane from eleven meters.
Gladbach’s keeper Nicolas misses, Kane is chasing a record
Sure, the Munich team were visually superior, but they still lacked precision and final consistency in front of the goal. In addition, the Gladbachers repeatedly managed to relieve the pressure with the ball and stay compact at the back. Until Kane was there again. When Müller rose in front of Moritz after a cross at five, the Gladbach keeper missed the mark and involuntarily laid the ball up for Kane, who easily headed it in from a central position. The Englishman equaled Luca Toni’s record from the 2007/08 season after just 20 match days – the Italian also scored 24 goals in his first year at Bayern, but only after 31 match days.
Anniversary victory for Bayern’s Müller
Gladbach tried to answer, but despite a decent game overall, the attempt failed. When, shortly before the end of regular time, de Ligt headed the ball unchallenged towards the goal after a free kick from Sané and the ball bounced off the bottom edge of the crossbar into the box, the game was decided. Nicolas (89th) saved another good chance from Mathys Tel (89th) to make it 4-1. Note on the side: For Müller it was his 500th competitive win in a Bayern jersey.
Bayern at Bayer, Gladbach against Darmstadt
FC Bayern will now take on Bayer Leverkusen next Saturday (February 10, 2023, 6:30 p.m.) for the top game and duel for the league lead. Then coach Tuchel has to do without Alphonso Davies. He suffered a strained medial ligament on his left knee against Gladbach. Gladbach welcomes Darmstadt 98 three hours earlier and will play the DFB Cup quarter-finals at 1. FC Saarbrücken on Tuesday (February 7, 2024).
2024-02-03 20:43:00
#Bayern #ready #Bayer #victory #Gladbach
