Bayern Munich 2-1 SC Freiburg
Bundesliga Matchday 16
17/01/21
Bayern Munich survived a late scare to win their first game in three against a spirited Freiburg.
Robert Lewandowski put Bayern ahead after just seven minutes then, in an extraordinary turn of events, former Bayern forward Nils Petersen equalised for Freiburg with his first touch immediately on as a substitute.
MOTM and Mr reliable Thomas Muller was the man to set Bayern back to winning ways after the shock defeat to Kiel midweek.
Bayern almost gave up the lead when Petersen’s strike in the first added minute of injury-time cannoned off the bar.
The form stats seemed to have been mixed up with Bayern coming into the game off the back of two defeats and Freiburg having won five in a row.
The return to form for The Reds increases their dominance over Bundesliga, going four points ahead after rivals Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig both drew yesterday, while Freiburg are still in search of their first win in Munich.
1st half: Lewandowski puts ahead in filthy conditions
What can only be described as a filthy day in Munich saw Bayern Munich looking to bounce back from their shock loss in the German Cup midweek.
Minus one degrees and sleet rain in Germany’s industrial heartland made for horrible conditions to try exhibit the beautiful game.
Looking at Freiburg’s record at the Allianz Arena you’d think the weather was the most dangerous factor to Bayern’s performance today – the Breisgau Brazilians, as they’re brilliantly nicknamed, have never beaten Bayern away from home.
Seven minutes it took for the eight time reigning champions to put behind them the embarrassment of being knocked out the Cup to a side from Division 2.
Gnabry played it to Muller who threaded it forward for Lewandowski to turn and score. Three players, three touches, a goal
Flick said before the game the level of performance Bayern produced in 2020 was not normal – one loss in the whole year – and that he expected a slump in performance to come at some point, but when does that slump find Lewandowski? It’s twenty-one in sixteen for the Pole who has eighteen games to chase down Muller’s fifty year record of forty goals in a single season.
Flick wrung the changes after the penalty shoot-out dismissal to Kiel on Wednesday, which was the first time in twenty years Bayern had been knocked out the Cup by a side outside Bundesliga.
Big guns Boateng, Alaba, Pavard, Goretzka and Coman came in, the surprise being Sane losing his place after scoring a long range effort in the midweek travesty.
What was not surprising was to see Niklas Sule withdrawn from the action after a couple of questionable displays from a defender who is seen as the long term replacement to Boateng.
SC Freiburg are the inform team in Bundesliga with five wins on the spin having netted at least twice in all five matches and having come off a 5-0 thumping delivered to Cologne in the last round.
However the Breisgau Brazilians have an almost radioactive record against Bayern and their plans weren’t helped when they were forced into a change with just two minutes played when Baptiste Santamaria looked to twist his ankle blocking Gnabry’s shot.
Gnabry had to be subbed himself on the half-hour wincing as he rubbed his thigh. The former Arsenal and West Brom forward looked the bright spark of the game with powerful running and a twenty yard shot brilliantly saved by Freiburg keeper Florian Muller midway through the half.
Sane, Gnabry’s replacement, should have made it 2-0 but sliced wide from ten yards on 30’. The big summer signing from Manchester City is still to set alight his career at the Allianz.
Freiburg had one half-chance to restore parity on 17’. Roland Sallai’s first time strike went just wide of Manuel Neuer’s goal. Neuer must have been freezing.
Further articles:
–Read Bayern boss Flick’s first press conference after the loss to Division 2 side Kiel, including refusing to answer a reporter’s question
–“Wasn’t good enough”. Aberdeen thrashed by Ross County 4-1 for first loss in Dingwall in 5 years: Reaction
–Six Nations 2021 preview: Lets get on with the tournament, even if it means sacrificing the fans
2nd half: First touch by sub Petersen gives Freiburg equaliser then he almost wins it
Inspired substitutions don’t get much better than Nils Petersen’s cameo on 62’. The ex-Bayern forward was subbed on for Ermedin Demirovic, literally ran to the box for the Freiburg corner and squeezed the cross into the net at the back post.
Freiburg’s day had been looking like it was going from almost impossible to just a right old mess when substitute Abrashi, on for the injured Santamaria, had to be subbed off on 53’ after a collision with Thomas Muller.
But it was perhaps Flick who was more concerned about pie on his face. Bayern had an excellent chance to take the lead when Lewandowski’s shot was deflected onto the bar, off of Sane’s delightful dummy over Davies’ cross, then, a minute after the equaliser brilliant one-twos in the box between Muller, Sane, Lewandowski and Goretzka saw the German midfielder’s shot blocked for a corner.
The winner came through Mr dependable, perennial Thomas Muller on 75’. Coman crossed in and Sane did well to lay the ball across to Muller who fired a half volley into the ground and past his namesake in goals.
Muller has been involved in all but one match in the league this season with six goals and eight assists including one of each today.
Freiburg almost came away with their first point against Bayern since 2018 when Petersen’s strike cannoned off the bar from eight yards one minute into injury-time.
MOTM: Thomas Muller
Sumptuous, intelligent and selfless pass to play in Lewan for the opening goal. How his cross to the back post on 35’ wasn’t turned in by Pavard or Kimmich is anyone’s guess, and bagged a goal. Just keeps going with this his 561st appearance for Bayern.
Bayern Munich, 4-2-3-1: Neuer (C), Davies, Boateng, Alaba, Pavard, Goretzka (->86′), Coman (->75′), Kimmich, Muller (->87′), Lewandowski, Gnabry (->27’)
Subs: Nubel (GK), Tolisso, Sule, Sane (->27’), Hernandez, Choupo-Moting (->87′), Roca, Martinez (->86′), Musiala (->75′)
SC Freiburg, 3-4-3: Muller, Lienhart, Gulde, Santamaria (->2’), Demirovic (->62′), Kubler (->61′), Sallai (->62′), Hofler, Gunter (C), Schlotterbeck, Grifo
Subs: Uphoff (GK), Abrashi (->2’) (->54′), Holer (->62′), Til, Petersen (->62′), Haberer (->54′), Heintz, Jeong, Tempelmann (->61′)
Goals: Lewandowski 7’, Petersen 62’, Muller 75’
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 