Vuskovic outstanding again
©IMAGO
FC Bayern suffered its second setback within a week in the Bundesliga. Seven days after their first defeat of the season against FC Augsburg (1:2), the Munich team only managed a 2:2 (1:1) draw at Hamburger SV in the former north-south summit. Harry Kane’s 22nd goal of the season (42nd) and Luis Díaz’s tenth goal (46th) were not enough to defeat the courageous Bundesliga returnee. Fábio Vieira with a penalty kick (34′) and the outstanding defense chief Luka Vuskovic (53′) ensured a well-deserved draw with their goals.
Despite the draw, Munich are still safe at the top of the table. Hamburg have now been waiting for a win for six games and are still in acute danger of relegation. The game against Bayern was still a sign of the competition in the fight to stay in the league. After all, the promoted team remained undefeated at home for the sixth time in a row. Hamburg still have to wait for their next win against Bayern after more than 16 years.
In contrast to the 0:5 in the first half of the season in Munich, Hamburg were at least on an equal footing with the heavy favorites in the early stages. HSV defense chief Vuskovic (6th) had the first big chance of the game when he headed the ball past the far post after a corner. Hopes for the first win against Bayern since September 26, 2009 were raised.
Munich’s restructured starting eleven seemed to need some time to find its feet. Bayern coach Vincent Kompany had made seven changes to his team at his old place of work as a player compared to Wednesday’s 2-1 win in the Champions League at PSV Eindhoven. Among other things, he initially gave defender Jonathan Tah a break in his hometown and later brought him in.
HSV equals against FC Bayern – lead not undeserved
After almost a quarter of an hour, Bayern became more compelling. Michael Olise (14th) and young star Lennart Karl (15th) each failed because of HSV goalkeeper Daniel Heuer Fernandes. But the Hamburg team resisted the guests’ growing superiority and remained dangerous. Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer had to use all his skills against HSV captain Nicolás Capaldo (25th). Four minutes later, Munich were unlucky when Joshua Kimmich hit the crossbar.
Nevertheless, the hosts’ lead thanks to Vieira’s penalty was not undeserved at the time. The Munich team didn’t allow themselves to be disturbed by the deficit and equalized through Kane before the break. Less than a minute after the restart, Bayern were on course for victory – thought many in the sold-out Volksparkstadion with 57,000 spectators. Díaz, who had just come on as a substitute, scored from close range.
But HSV didn’t let themselves be defeated. The defense was secure. And despite the loss of numerous offensive players, the hosts looked for salvation in attack. The well-deserved reward was Vuskovic’s equalizer (53′) – his fourth goal of the season. Vieira had the chance three minutes earlier after a bad pass from Bayern’s Díaz. His shot went just wide of the goal. The guests from the south couldn’t think of much. They were even lucky that a shot from Vieira (75th) was blocked by Munich’s Alphonso Davies for the already beaten Neuer in front of the goal line. In the final phase, Bayern pushed for victory – without success.
