Reitz flies off the pitch
©IMAGO
Even without Harry Kane, FC Bayern took the next step towards their 35th championship title with another goal celebration. The easy 4:1 (2:0) in a totally one-sided Bundesliga classic against Borussia Mönchengladbach was the ideal start to an intense March for the Munich team.
Things will get serious in the Champions League next Tuesday when the German football record champions visit Dortmund conquerors Atalanta Bergamo for the first leg of the round of 16. Then probably again with Kane in the storm.
Musiala’s first league goal since April 2025
Instead of the leading league goalscorer, who was missing due to a bruised calf, the strong Luis Díaz (33rd minute), Konrad Laimer (45th + 1), Jamal Musiala (57th) and Nicolas Jackson (79th) scored the goals for the league leaders in front of 75,000 spectators in the Allianz Arena. Gladbach only managed to score the final score through joker Wael Mohya (89′).
Musiala confidently represented the injured Kane at the penalty spot. It was the long-injured Musiala’s first league goal since April 4, 2025, when he scored 3-1 in Augsburg.
Gladbach harmless, red for Reitz
The harmless Gladbachers were miles away from a bonus point in the relegation battle. And after the red card for captain Rocco Reitz, who had fouled Jackson on the penalty kick, they had to hold out outnumbered for over half an hour.
There are new concerns at Bayern about Manuel Neuer. The captain, who returned to the Bayern goal after a torn muscle fiber in his calf, was largely unemployed for 45 minutes. The almost 40-year-old stayed in the dressing room during the break. Just a precaution, or more? Jonas Urbig came. And the 22-year-old had almost nothing to do against ten Gladbach, apart from conceding a goal in the final phase.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany had the luxury of resting Kane and other regulars such as Michael Olise, Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic or Serge Gnabry and Josip Stanisic for Bergamo. Others were allowed to show themselves. Especially in the offensive, where alongside Jamal Musiala and Lennart Karl, Jackson was once again allowed to play in the Kane position. In the 60th minute, 17-year-old Maycon Cardozo made his Bundesliga debut. A football fairytale that began 8,800 kilometers away.
The most noticeable attacker was the long-time performer Díaz, who made it 1-0 with a volley and served the ball to Laimer to make it 2-0 with great control during a Bayern counterattack. Youngster Karl was particularly hard-working, as he was unlucky with an offside goal (10th), but then set up Jackson’s 4-0. Musiala showed further good attempts with some dribbling and was able to celebrate a personal sense of achievement on the way to previous strength after the penalty.
The focus was also on Leon Goretzka. After national coach Julian Nagelsmann announced in a “Kicker” interview that the 31-year-old could play an important World Cup role despite his limited playing time at the club, the midfielder was obviously inspired to demonstrate his abilities.
Goretzka pushed forward and used the offensive players excellently on several occasions. The crowning achievement of a strong performance was the fine lob to goalscorer Díaz. It was a brilliant moment from the team worker Goretzka.
