FC Bayern with a work victory in Gladbach

Munich people are autumn champions

Labor victory in Gladbach: Kane redeems FC Bayern

FC Bayern started the new year with a sense of success. In the end, Gladbach’s self-sacrificing team won a penalty.

Without Jamal Musiala, who had a cold, FC Bayern had a perfect start to the new year on Saturday evening and celebrated the autumn championship at the same time. In the absence of the German international, top scorer Harry Kane gave the German record champions a well-deserved 1-0 away win (0-0) in the top game at Borussia Mönchengladbach. The Englishman put a penalty kick into the “Foals” goal after 68 minutes. Gladbach’s Lukas Ullrich had previously brought down Bayern’s Michael Olise.

Borussia put up a defensive battle against the guests’ attacks, especially in the first half. In the second section, Gladbach ventured forward from time to time, but lacked the ultimate penetration in the offensive. Bayern, for their part, had good opportunities to decide the game early. Leroy Sané had the best, missing the empty goal (71st minute).

Joshua Kimmich after the game on “Sky”: “We had good chances, very clear things. We made it too exciting because we didn’t decide the game earlier.”

Thanks to the narrow success, the Munich team is once again four points ahead of their closest rival Bayer Leverkusen in the table. The “Werkself” won their away game in Dortmund 3-2 on Friday evening.

Bayern will be back in the Bundesliga next Wednesday. At the end of the first half of the season, the German record champions welcome TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. The start of the second half of the season in front of the home crowd against VfL Wolfsburg is scheduled for Saturday.

In recent years, Bayern have repeatedly suffered bitter defeats in Gladbach. Without offensive artist Musiala, the Munich team were, as expected, clearly superior on the field before the break, but had far too little speed and esprit in the game. The Borussians withdrew far back with a compact three-man formation in the defensive midfield consisting of captain Julian Weigl, bundle of energy Rocco Reitz and the unfortunate Philipp Sander. The new signing from Kiel came into the Gladbach starting line-up in place of Franck Honorat, who was absent at short notice.

Without the Frenchman’s feared crosses, the game largely went past national striker Tim Kleindienst. Manuel Neuer, who was back in the Bayern goal for the first time since the cup exit against Bayer Leverkusen on December 3 after recovering from a rib injury, was not tested at all. The Gladbachers didn’t get a single shot on the visitors’ goal in the first half.

Defensively, Borussia were compact against Bayern, who had been unimaginative for a long time. Only twice did they need either luck – when Leon Goretzka missed a shot next to the goal (18th) – or the skills of keeper Moritz Nicolas against Thomas Müller (23rd).

Kleindienst missed his great chance to take the lead immediately after the break when he headed over the goal from close range. In general, after the change, the Gladbachers played more offensively and became more courageous in a game that was now wilder.

However, Bayern retained control of the game without creating any compelling scoring opportunities. A clumsy tackle by Lukas Ullrich in his own penalty area against Michael Olise finally gave Kane the opportunity to at least score from the spot. The captain of the English national team gratefully accepted this.

The Munich team then routinely downplayed their victory. However, Sané shortly after taking the lead as well as Goretzka (84th), Davies (86th) and Gnabry (90th + 4) failed to increase the result.