20th matchday
Bayern do “homework” before the league summit
Harry Kane (l.) celebrates his 24th goal of the season with his teammates. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
FC Bayern is trying to secure a win against Borussia Mönchengladbach before the league summit. There is an anniversary success for Müller. Kane follows in the footsteps of a German football legend.
“Only FCB will become German champions,” chanted the supporters after the arduous 3-1 win after a 1-0 deficit against Borussia Mönchengladbach. However, the home win, initiated by a major mistake by guest keeper Moritz Nicolas, was not enough to make a masterful statement to the Bundesliga leaders from the Rhine, who were two points ahead.
“I believe that we are on the right track and that we can also win away in Leverkusen,” said Thomas Müller after his 500th competitive win. “I got a jersey, the team cheered for me – everything was wonderful. But next week it’s against Leverkusen.” The framed jersey has the number 500 on the back.
Pavlovic repays trust
With a win next weekend in Leverkusen, Munich can take over the top of the Bundesliga. The Werkself won 2-0 at SV Darmstadt on Saturday and are leading the table by two points. The Gladbachers, who had wrested a 0-0 draw from Leverkusen a week ago, also proved to be unpleasant opponents in the Allianz Arena, which was sold out with 75,000 spectators. “We offered Bayern too much,” complained midfielder Julian Weigl. That shouldn’t happen to Gladbach in the cup quarter-finals on Wednesday in Saarbrücken.
After the 0-1 by Nico Elvedi (35th minute), Bayern youngster Aleksander Pavlovic once again underlined his qualities with the equalizer, which was once again rewarded with a place in the starting eleven (45th). Kane let the Munich team celebrate 2-1 after goalkeeper Nicolas’ mistake following a cross from Leon Goretzka (70′). Shortly before the end, defender Matthijs de Ligt raised the score with his head (86′). “We have done our homework,” said coach Thomas Tuchel.
Tuchel repeatedly struggled on the sidelines. However, he was able to see as a positive result that his team left the pitch as winners after falling behind. And that Kane, who has now scored 24 times this season, continues to work. “Harry put the dust in,” said Tuchel. Only Uwe Seeler scored more times in his first Bundesliga season with 30 goals than Kane in his debut season in Germany’s top league.
Müller’s milestone
However, in the big league test of strength next Saturday on the Rhine, Bayern will have to present themselves more stable than in their long-shaky success against Borussia. “We stayed calm and showed a good reaction,” said Tuchel.
Record winner Müller came into focus again and again after three games as a joker when he returned to the starting eleven. Now the celebratory player is hoping to be in the starting eleven against the Werkself. “I would line up,” joked the 34-year-old on the Sky microphone after his 690th Bayern game.
Before the score was 0-1, he was unable to process a risky pass from Neuer. Elvedi took advantage of Munich’s mishap and, after a one-two with Jordan, finished to give Gladbach the lead. “We were ripped off,” said Tuchel.
Müller played a key role in Bayern’s two goals. Before Kane’s groundbreaking goal, he irritated Nicolas after a Goretzka cross, who then reached past the ball. Müller also initiated the 1-1 with a clever pass to Pavlovic. The 19-year-old scored like he did a week ago in the 3-2 win against Augsburg.