7th matchday
Bayern are chasing Bayer: solo dancer Sané fools Freiburg
Strong once again: Bayern’s Leroy Sané is also decisive against Freiburg. photo
© Christian Charisius/dpa
That was Bayern-like. The Munich team had everything under control in the cheerful home win against Freiburg. Coman and Sané score spectacular goals. And Müller equalized a record set by Neuer’s audience.
Led by solo dancers Leroy Sané and double packer Kingsley Coman, FC Bayern said goodbye to the international break with a powerful victory statement against Freiburg extras.
After the extremely confident 3-0 (2-0), the German series champions in the Bundesliga, third in the table, find themselves in the unfamiliar and unloved role of pursuer: Bayern are chasing Bayer! The Leverkusen team, who are also still unbeaten, are two points ahead as leader.
In captain Thomas Müller’s 322nd victory, which equaled the Bundesliga record set by national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who was perhaps watching in the stands for the last time after his broken leg, other Bayern professionals did magic in front of 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena. Kingsley Coman surprised himself with the opening goal in the 12th minute with an actually unsuccessful cross ball that hit the far corner in a high arc over the surprised and helpless SC goalkeeper Noah Atubolu. Coman laughed himself. With a slightly deflected shot, the Frenchman also made the final score 3-0 (85th).
Freiburg is hardly dangerous offensively
The biggest show was still delivered by Sané, who crowned his performance with the sixth goal of the season (25th). The national player was in his best international form; like a skier in a slalom, he repeatedly circled the Freiburg opponents with the ball. His goal included a one-two with Harry Kane as a gem. Sané’s supposed 3-0 victory after the next great individual performance was disallowed for offside according to video evidence, but it also delighted the audience.
Unlike the 1-2 shock against Freiburg in the DFB Cup quarter-finals last season, Thomas Tuchel’s star ensemble was not even remotely in danger this time against Breisgauer. Apart from a shot chance from Lucas Höler in the opening phase, the guests hardly came close to the Munich goal when going forward. And at the back, the sick defense chief Matthias Ginter was badly missed against the oppressive Bayern.
Sané-Kane combination is running smoothly again
After the break it was all about the extent of Munich’s victory. Leon Goretzka was unlucky late on when he hit the post (83′), then Coman celebrated his brace. Kane also desperately wanted his ninth goal of the season after the Englishman narrowly missed the target with two almost identical shots from the edge of the penalty area. What was striking was how well Kane once again harmonized with Sané.
Coman freed himself from an unfortunate phase with his unwanted but spectacular cross goal. A left-footed shot from the Frenchman almost made it 3-0 (68′).
Müller also tried a lot when he returned to the starting eleven. However, some things went wrong for the 34-year-old, who once even tried his luck with an overhead kick. After 70 minutes it was over and Jamal Musiala took over.
In the center of defense, Dayot Upamecano and Minjae Kim had everything under control. The Bayern management may have confirmed this once again in their decision not to sign problem professional Jérôme Boateng. And the Freiburgers? Christian Streich’s team was more compact after the break – but without becoming dangerous themselves.