Leon Goretzka made his last game for Bayern about four months ago. The national player returned to the field in Freiburg – and scored directly into the opponent’s goal.
FC Bayern won their top game at SC Freiburg 4-1. Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team put in a strong performance, especially in the closing stages, scoring three goals in the final 20 minutes. The returnee Leon Goretzka, who played again after a four-month break and scored directly, made a positive impression.
That’s how the game went
The prank, which is otherwise so reserved, had made a bold announcement by its standards before the game. “We don’t want to be smaller than the big Bavarians on this one day,” said the 56-year-old. With the exception of Alphonso Davies, Bayern had the best players. Goretzka made his comeback after stubborn patellar tendon problems, along with questionable Robert Lewandowski (rib) and Joshua Kimmich (birth of third child).
And Goretzka (8th) fired the first warning shot in front of 34,700 spectators in the Europa-Park stadium, which was full for the first time and thus heralded the Munich attack vortex after a sleepy opening few minutes. Thomas Müller (12th), Tanguy Nianzou per head (13th) and Leroy Sane (15th) came up with further promising opportunities before the Freiburg team stabilized in front of ex-national coach Joachim Löw with their deep five-man chain.
Kingsley Coman (left) in a duel with Jonathan Schmid. (Source: MIS/imago images)
Bayern managed to pick up the pace less often, and the chances against the second-best defense in the league became fewer. The string team now combined again and again, but there were no ideas near the penalty area. Only Roland Sallai (31′) tested Manuel Neuer before the break, but his opponent Mark Flekken only had to intervene after a harmless long-range shot by Coman (45′).
After the change, the front runner acted a little more purposefully as the turbulence grew denser. Müller (50′) stumbled alone in front of the goal after a dream pass from Coman, then Goretzka headed in a Kimmich free-kick (58′). The Bayern offensive was now almost impossible to grasp, but Flekken saved with a brilliant save against Coman (60th).
Freiburg brought on Edeljoker Petersen one day after his contract extension, who scored 17 seconds later with his first touch of the ball in the far corner (63rd). Substitute Gnabry did the same after a mistake by national player Nico Schlotterbeck (73.), who was associated with Bayern. Coman (82nd) and Sabitzer (90th + 6) made everything clear.