FC Bayern Munich has come back with an impressive victory after four league games without a win against Bayer Leverkusen.
FC Bayern celebrated a 4-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen on Friday evening (September 30th, 2022) at the start of the 8th matchday and shot themselves out of the crisis. With the win, the record champions (15 points) reduced the gap to surprise leaders Union Berlin (17), at least temporarily, to two points. Leverkusen, who were unable to counter Munich’s urge to attack in the first half, are still stuck in the bottom of the table with just one win in eight games.
Musiala involved in three Bayern goals
Leroy Sané put Munich on course early with his opening goal (3rd minute) after a sharp cross from Jamal Musiala. Musiala made it 2-0 himself with a shot into the near post (17′). Shortly before the break, Bayern’s young star scored the third goal, Sadio Mané (39′) beat Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Thomas Müller (84′) made it 4-0 after Bayer keeper Hradecky slipped during the pass and Müller served the ball – this made for a completely messed-up evening from Leverkusen’s point of view.
After the disappointing results of the past few weeks, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann had announced that he did not want to “change everything”. He stuck to the system and style, the starting XI were in Benjamin Pavard and Marcel Sabitzer only two new ones. Even the recently hapless Mané continued to gain confidence.
The Munich team took control from the start and, in front of 75,000 spectators and a full house, again showed the last missing, merciless efficiency in the end. After just 150 seconds, Sané scored coolly from close range after a pass from Musiala. The goal to make it 2-0 was preceded by a one-two between Musiala and Müller, Hradecky was taken by surprise by the young international’s shot into the near corner.
Problem child Mané meets again
Afterwards, Mané, the last problem child in the Munich offensive, was able to celebrate his liberation: after his redeeming goal, which Nagelsmann celebrated with a double fist, the Senegalese gratefully fell to his knees and kissed the pitch. After the break, Mané was allowed to celebrate again. But because before his goal to the supposed 4: 0 (56.) Matthijs de Ligt hit Odilon Kossounou in the back of the head in a header duel, the goal was withdrawn after video evidence – a controversial decision.
Leverkusen’s attempts to make the game more balanced were ineffective. Substitute Amine Adli (64th) had the rare opportunity to make the result a little more bearable from the guest’s point of view during a counterattack after a Bayern corner. But Manuel Neuer made a strong save.
Nagelsmann could then afford to conserve energy. With Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry, the two professionals who are currently closest to the starting eleven also got match practice after a good hour. When Musiala was substituted, the fans rose from their seats (81st).
Protests from Bayern fans after Hoeneß statements pro Qatar
Honorary President Uli Hoeneß had to put up with criticism from his own supporters. In the previous week, Hoeneß had defended the World Cup host Qatar against what he considered to be unjustified criticism, but the fans in Munich protested on banners.
FC Bayern first against Pilsen, then at BVB
Both Bayern and Leverkusen now have Champions League tasks ahead of them. The record champions from Munich will welcome Viktoria Pilsen next Tuesday (6.45 p.m.) before the league summit at Borussia Dortmund (Saturday, 6.30 p.m.).
Bayer Leverkusen will play FC Porto in the premier class next Tuesday (9 p.m.). In the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen host FC Schalke 04 on Matchday 9 (Saturday, 3:30 p.m.).