Against Borussia Mönchengladbach, FC Bayern are without other regular players in addition to striker Harry Kane, but still celebrate a 4-1 win that was never in danger and gain self-confidence for the upcoming Champions League duel against Bergamo.
Luis Diaz opened the goal festival in the 33rd minute, Konrad Laimer (45th + 1) increased before the break. Jamal Musiala made it 3-0 (57th) with a penalty, which was caused by Mönchengladbach’s captain Rocco Reitz, for which Reitz was shown a red card. Nicolas Jackson (79th) added the fourth goal, Wael Moyha (89th) scored Gladbach’s goal.
After last week’s victory at BVB, the Munich team are heading further towards the championship and have also come a little closer to a new goal record: After their next big win, they increased their tally to 92 goals after 25 match days, and are only nine goals short of their own previous record from the 1971/72 season.
The Gladbachers, who ended their losing streak with a win against Union Berlin last week, remain at 25 points and have to collect the points elsewhere in the fight to stay in the league.
Bayern without Kane – but also Tah, Pavlovic, Olise and Gnabry out
It was already known before kick-off that the ailing top scorer Harry Kane was given a break at FC Bayern, also as a precautionary measure before the upcoming Champions League game in Bergamo. Coach Vincent Kompany also left Jonathan Tah, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Michael Olise, Josip Stanisic and Serge Gnabry on the bench.
Bayern starts dominantly right away
However, the extensive rotation had no noticeable effect on the Munich team’s combination flow: Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka on the double six kept driving the game forward, Goretzka almost provided the first highlight after ten minutes, with a magic pass to the top: Lennart Karl sank the ball into the far corner, but was a step offside.
Leon Goretzka almost takes the lead with his perfect pass into the interface.
The Munich team kept the pressure high and repeatedly came out wide at high speed. Gladbach could hardly free themselves and only got dangerously into the Munich penalty area after almost 25 minutes: Haris Tabakovic failed to get the ball to the goal after a cross from Hugo Bolin.
But Lennart Karl immediately took the lead in return, keeper Moritz Nicolas flew into the corner and fended off Karl’s shot.
Goretzka outstanding – and with the assist to take the lead through Diaz
The game went in the expected direction, the decisive push was provided by Goretzka, who was recently declared indispensable by the national coach and who will probably leave Munich in the summer: The midfield veteran lobbed the ball with a lot of overview into the penalty area to the starting Diaz, who sank it directly into the right corner with the outside of his foot.
Main actors at FC Bayern: Leon Goretzka and the goal scorers Nicolas Jackson and Jamal Musiala
The Munich team continued to press and looked for the preliminary decision before the break: Jackson, as Kane’s replacement in the attack, should have added immediately after taking the lead, but shot at Gladbach’s keeper from close range.
Jamal Musiala in particular was extremely keen to play, artistically plucking a wide cross into the penalty area just before the baseline and passing it straight to Laimer – whose shot whizzed just over the box.
Shortly before the half-time whistle, Laimer caused the blow: Jackson won the ball against Kevin Diks in midfield and then prepared the goal well, served Diaz, who with a lot of overview in the penalty area crossed to the even better positioned Laimer, the Austrian humourlessly slammed the ball under the crossbar.
Konrad Laimer increased the score to 2-0 shortly before the break.
New one in the dressing room for the break – Musiala with his debut goal
Manuel Neuer remained in the dressing room at half-time, apparently injured, while Jonas Urbig took over the place in the Bayern box. Little changed in the course of the game, Bayern continued to move forward: Laimer looked for the way to his second goal in the absence of the serial double packer Kane, his aimless shot flew just centimeters past the near corner (52nd).
The preliminary decision came three minutes later: the strong Jackson was free in front of Nicolas after a one-two with Musiala, Gladbach’s captain Reitz clung to Jackson from behind, who still managed to finish. Referee Robert Schröder gave a penalty and viewed Reitz’s action as an emergency brake – a tough decision.
Red against Reitz – Gladbach outnumbered, but without a chance beforehand
Gladbach had to survive outnumbered for the last half hour, Musiala safely converted the penalty – the national player’s first goal of the season after the serious injury at the Club World Cup. Musiala was even allowed to finish the game as Bayern captain and later received the armband from the substitute Kimmich.
The Munich team then went into slow gear for the upcoming Bergamo game, Kompany brought in two youngsters, Maycon Cardozo and David Daiber. Jackson was also rewarded for his good performance, Karl brought the cross sharply in front of the box, Jackson pushed the ball over the line. Mönchengladbach’s goal by Moyha, who scored his first league goal as he followed up, did nothing to change Munich’s undisputed victory.
Bayern in Leverkusen, Gladbach against St. Pauli
Mönchengladbach will play again on matchday 26 on Friday evening, with a home game against FC St. Pauli (8.30 p.m.). FC Bayern will play at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday afternoon (3:30 p.m.).
