32nd matchday
Bayern are thinking about Real and the last step
Harry Kane and Bayern go home from Stuttgart with a defeat. photo
© Bernd Weißbrod/dpa
Bayern were not granted a sense of success before the Champions League clash in Madrid. They lose 1:3 in Stuttgart. But it gets even worse: all-rounder Guerreiro is on crutches.
The goalkeeper thanked him with cautious clapping Manuel Neuer for the encouraging shouts from the followers who traveled with him. The fans of FC Bayern Munich clearly did not take offense at their best player and his teammates for what was, according to sports director Max Eberl, an “annoying” 1:3 (1:1) in the Bundesliga against VfB Stuttgart.
Instead, their chants quickly brought the focus back to the all-important semi-final second leg of the Champions League on Wednesday (9 p.m./DAZN) at Real Madrid.
“If there was any day to finish the game here as quickly as possible, then it is today,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel. “It’s now a matter of preparing for three days so that we can hopefully take the final step on Wednesday.” Above all there is the fervent wish to fulfill the dream of the final at Wembley Stadium after the 2-2 draw in the first leg in Madrid.
Bayern’s bad luck with injuries continues
Tuchel’s team was unable to gain self-confidence in the game against the third-place team in the Bundesliga. On the contrary: Bayern seemed to have mental difficulties getting involved in the game against the Swabians. In addition, the huge anticipation for the game in the Spanish capital was further dampened in terms of personnel.
Eric Dier and Raphaël Guerreiro were hit in Stuttgart. The England international was initially able to continue playing with a turban and was only substituted at half-time. After the final whistle he was able to walk into the fan curve. With the Portuguese, however, things looked much worse. He had to hobble off the field with a leg injury (17th minute) and, according to Tuchel, will “very likely” miss Wednesday.
“It’s magical, a common thread,” said the coach. However, there is hope for a return for central defender Matthijs de Ligt. The 24-year-old Dutchman trained individually on Saturday and is scheduled to return to team training on Sunday. “It looks pretty good,” reported sports director Max Eberl.
Harry Kane’s 36th goal of the season
The already tense personnel situation for the Munich team, who completely or largely spared many stars such as Leroy Sané and Thomas Müller in Stuttgart, became even worse before the premier class clash at Real. Nevertheless, after Harry Kane’s equalizing goal, who scored his 36th goal of the season with a converted penalty (37th), they were able to hope for at least a point for a long time. Leonidas Stergiou had previously given VfB the lead in front of 60,000 spectators (29th). In the final phase, Woo-yeong Jeong (83rd) and Silas Katompa Mvumpa (90th +3) ensured the 21st win of the season for the almost relegated team from the previous season.
Overall, the people of Stuttgart appeared more alert. They impressed with their wit and their shots were repeatedly thwarted by Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who made numerous saves to prevent a major defeat. “Of course it was a sandwich game between the two semi-final games. But okay, that’s how it is now,” said Tuchel, expressing some understanding for his team’s passive demeanor. “We’ll sit on the bus and think about what we need on Wednesday.”
The Bayern bosses’ deliberations are now moving into the next round, as the search for a successor to Tuchel, with whom the record champions have agreed to part ways after this season, continues to be sluggish. Immediately before kick-off, Eberl explained in a “Sky” interview that Ralf Rangnick’s cancellation was “ultimately surprising”. “But for us it is what it is, and now we can move on,” said the 50-year-old, who did not want to comment further on the names of possible new candidates that were reported in the media before kick-off.