Manuel Neuer
Old hand in the business, which is why he naturally knows that trips to Freiburg are not subject to entertainment tax. However: He has not yet played in the new Europa Park stadium and it is not that often that he sees a goalkeeper on the other side first with the national team and then directly in the Bundesliga – but that Mark Flekken is now also the Dutch national goalkeeper says a bit about the development at SC Freiburg.
Was the opponent appropriately highly concentrated, especially in corners, which are known to be particularly dangerous at the sports club. Powerless when Nils Petersen conceded. When Petersen comes on, he scores – that’s what the law wants, and even a world goalkeeper can’t do anything about it.
And: Even as an old hand, he has never seen twelve men on the field (see substitutes).
Benjamin Pavard
Formed the Franco-Bavarian chain of defense with his compatriots Nianzou, Upamecano and Hernandez “la défense”. Had to play as a right-back again and may therefore have read the rumor mill reports about Ajax player Noussair Mazraoui, in whom FC Bayern is said to be interested. He is a right-back, which would be less of a competitor than a help for Pavard, since a right-footed spot in central defense would become available in the summer after Niklas Süle left. In his permanent second position against Freiburg, he didn’t play badly at all, again with one or the other spectacular rescue tackle.
Tanguy Nianzou
In the second half, Christian Günter straddled so rustically that Joshua Kimmich (see there) felt compelled to tirade Nianzou’s defense. Was allowed to start again because of Süle’s injury and was sovereign. Looks a little narrow-chested, especially compared to his neighbor Upamecano, but apparently has very good ball handling and also masters the art of the opening pass.
Dayot Upamecano
Has a difficult time at FC Bayern because many observers speak of “defense problems” and mean him unspoken. The point is: He also simply provides points of attack in every game. Allows himself regularly bad passes, which you better not allow yourself as the first set-up player. Before the Freiburg equalizer, he left the center, failed to win the ball and then missed to disrupt Nils Petersen. Good for him: Assisted Comans 3-1 with a very nice long pass.
Lucas Hernández
Made one of his best Bayern games in recent memory, which was definitely partly due to the fact that Freiburg made the game a fighting game and Hernandez loves fighting games. Fighted and worked his way down the left side, a lot went over him. Found several times with good passes Kingsley Coman and then in the second half Serge Gnabry who turned his pass into a goal.
Joshua Kimmich
Missed two internationals because his wife was expecting their third child – but the offspring are still not here. Has a good relationship with Hansi Flick, otherwise the national coach would perhaps ask more critically why he can’t risk a trip to the national team, but a trip to Freiburg can.
Instead of waiting at home, he was greeted with two juicy body checks by Christian Günter and Nicolas Höfler, the Freiburgers had obviously made it their job to make life as difficult as possible for him. Had Bayern’s best chance of the first half as he took a corner straight to the near post.
In the course of the second half, his head increasingly took on the color “Hoeneß-Rot” because he did not agree with the Freiburg hardness. He escalated completely after Günther tackled the young Nianzou. Celebrated exuberantly after Gnabry’s goal.
Leon Goretzka
You don’t play there for almost four months and then you have to let yourself be yelled at by Christian Streich in the sleet. The trigger was a foul by Goretzka on Roland Sallai, which prompted the Freiburg coach to live out his emotional state. Thomas Müller (see there) had to come to the rescue.
Goretzka was a bit surprisingly right in the starting XI. After his protracted knee injury, it was difficult to start directly against a team from Freiburg who were keen on tackling. Didn’t really get into the game at first either, tried a scissors punch, but all in all you could already see the four-month break in him. Well, anything else would have been weird too. Surprisingly, it wasn’t substituted at half-time either – and it was worth it. Correctly anticipated a Kimmich free-kick cross, headed the 1-0, stretched his muscular arms to the sides and celebrated with the fans in the away block. Was then allowed to call it a day in the 61st minute. The equalizer came immediately afterwards.
Kingsley Coman
Usually masters a simple but almost indefensible trick: he puts the ball past the opponent and just runs after it. And because he’s faster than almost every defender, that’s only too understandable from his point of view. The problem: Freiburg initially stood so low that he had to put the ball out of bounds. There just wasn’t any space. So it was no coincidence that he only scored to make it 3-1 when the opponent had to open up a bit.
Thomas Müller
There was a war of words with Christian Streich because Leon Goretzka (see there) insulted after a foul and actually such a dispute between Müller and Streich is a dialogue that one would have liked to have passed on. Maybe someone will tell you at some point. Otherwise, Muller didn’t play that big of a role in this game, which was surprising because Muller is usually good whenever the game gets complicated.
Leroy Sane
Often dissatisfied because the game mostly didn’t go over the right side (his) but over the left (not his). Sometimes with casual ball losses and forward without decisive action. Not his game.
Robert Lewandowski
Actually, there is a law in football: Don’t talk about possible weaknesses before the game. But everyone knew anyway that Robert Lewandowski had been hit in the chest during Poland’s World Cup qualifier. “I hope he doesn’t get hit in the ribs,” said Julian Nagelsmann before the game. If the opponent then does it anyway, then of course that wouldn’t be the best way – but football is a tough game.
Targeted hits against his chest could not be seen, but that was also due to the fact that Freiburg felt like they were working very hard on every Bayern player. Lewandowski was fouled by Maxi Eggestein on the edge of his own penalty area about halfway through the first half, where he had rushed back because nothing worked up front. Had to leave the field after an hour – probably wasn’t 100% fit
Serge Gnabry
May have felt it as a small sign of distrust that he was not allowed to start again. Of course it helps in any discussions with the coach if you score the important 2-1 just seconds after being substituted on.
Marcel Sabitzer
Scored his first goal for Bayern Munich.
substitute
… could turn the game completely upside down. Because FC Bayern played with twelve men for a short time after Niklas Sule and Marcel Sabitzer entered the field, apparently not two players left (Coman and Corentin Tolisso) same. At least that’s what Freiburg said after the game. It was initially unclear what consequences this could have.