Bundesliga catch-up game
FCB struggles to react – strange coach red
Raphael Guerreiro gave Bayern the lead against Union. photo
© Sven Hoppe/dpa
That was not the Bayern response that was expected from FC Bayern after the Bremen bankruptcy. At least there is a win against Union Berlin. Things get turbulent in the final phase.
After this agony of victory, everyone cheered FC Bayern nobody big. Three days after the Bremen shock, the Munich team only managed a meager result with a 1-0 (0-0) win against 1. FC Union Berlin. Worn out, the stars led by goalscorer Raphael Guerreiro breathed a sigh of relief after a heated final phase with visiting coach Nenad Bjelica red.
“I have no problem with the game, not with the result and not with the manner,” said Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel on the pay-TV channel Sky. Thanks to their meager success in the catch-up game against the relegation candidates, the Munich team reduced the gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen to four points. “Overall it’s okay today,” said Tuchel. Bayern were much more attentive than against Bremen.
However, Tuchel’s team was once again a long way from a football that would give Bayern fans hope of a masterful comeback. Like against Werder, it wasn’t Bayern-like for 90 minutes. With his goal (46th minute), Guerreiro ensured that Tuchel did not find himself in extreme need of explanation. “It’s an important victory. It wasn’t an easy game,” said national soccer player Leon Goretzka. “The all-important thing was that we won the game.”
Bjelica sees red after a scuffle with Sané
Unlike Werder’s 1-0 win three days earlier, the Iron Men didn’t make any progress for a long time. Jerome Roussillon almost scored the equalizer out of nowhere, but was denied by national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. In the guests’ only strong offensive scene, the Berlin bench loudly complained about what they believed was a penalty-worthy foul by Konrad Laimer on striker Kevin Behrens (72′).
Coach Bjelica didn’t calm down after that and was shown red two minutes later after a scuffle with national player Leroy Sané, whose face he grabbed. Sané got away with a yellow card. “I don’t want to sugarcoat anything, but it’s also well provoked,” said Berlin defender Kevin Vogt. “We defended well and fought well.”
Bayern were hardly dangerous before the break
After the criticism of boring football from the boardroom, Tuchel’s ensemble against the Berlin defensive bulwark again failed to inspire the 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena. Bayern’s performance was sluggish in the first half and without any offensive aha effects.
Things were different after the break, at least for a short time. Just 30 seconds after the restart, Harry Kane hammered the ball onto the post. Guerreiro scored his second Bayern goal as he followed up. Augsburg coach Jess Thorup, who and his team are the record champions’ next opponents on Saturday, was not yet back in his seat.
Kane’s goal to make it 2-0 was disallowed
After Guerreiro’s goal as a hello moment, the Munich team tried to make it 2-0. However, Harry Kane was denied the sole record as the best goalscorer in a Bundesliga first half of the season (55th). Leroy Sané was offside for Kane’s supposed 23rd goal of the season. After that, Munich’s short-term attack power fizzled out again.
Bitter for the Berliners: After a collision with Upamecano, Kevin Volland had to leave after 26 minutes with dizziness. Upamecano, on the other hand, had to go out injured at the break. He made a solid debut with FC Bayern winter signing Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur). “That was a good reaction,” said the Englishman.