FC Bayern Munich took over the lead from BVB again with a 2-0 (0-0) win over bottom-placed Hertha BSC on matchday 30 of the Bundesliga. Joshua Kimmich prepared both goals by Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman for the otherwise remarkably unsettled Munich team, which is worth seeing.
The fans in the south curve used the stage again to criticize those responsible for the record champions and especially the CEO Oliver Kahn. On a total of eleven banners they wrote what and how FC Bayern should be in their opinion: Under the heading “Our FC Bayern Ahead” it said: “Socially responsible”, “Member club”, “Part of the Bundesliga”, “Mia san Mia “, “With brain and heart”, “Red and white”, “Sustainable development”, “Regional roots”, “FC Bayern family” and “A club for everyone”. At half time, some fans also whistled the team for their unimaginative performance.
Bayern Munich’s sports director Hasan Salihamidzic reacted quite thinly to the criticism of the composition of the squad before the game. “We have a top squad,” he insisted DAZN.
Thomas Müller celebrated after the victory in the mixed zone: “Here we are again! We’ll get this thing. Can you write it down?” Hertha coach Pal Dardai was annoyed that Bayern had run out of strength towards the end: “Bayern are a top team. But after 60-70 minutes they were exhausted. Actually we have to go home with a point here.”
You can read more about the game here and here.
FC Bayern Munich – Hertha BSC: The analysis
Thomas Müller was once again on the bench. Leroy Sané, who was often an invigorating element in the games under Tuchel as a sluggish fair-weather player, initially only sat on the bench. In addition, Tuchel returned to the back four after the failed experiment in Mainz, with Noussair Mazraoui and João Cancelo forming the full-backs.
“Thomas is always a tough decision, as is Leroy,” explained Tuchel DAZN the personnel decisions before the start of the game: “But Serge had the edge there. Sadio (Mané) had a good match and scored, Jamal (Musiala) and Thomas are similar, so we decided on Jamal.”
The Munich team sorted themselves against the very deep Berliners at the beginning in a 4-1-3-2 with Serge Gnabry and Sadio Mané as a rather unfortunate acting duo: Mané in particular repeatedly missed quite promising passes, sometimes because of a lack of body length, sometimes because of a lack Tempo. In general, a real offensive plan by Bayern could not be identified, apart from missing the two physically rather medium-sized strikers – who were soon joined by Kingsley Coman – with as many flanks as possible. On the defensive, Matthijs de Ligt was not always completely safe against Dodi Lukebakio; overall, however, Berlin was primarily interested in destroying.
It wasn’t until the 26th minute that Bayern switched after clearing a Berlin free kick, Serge Gnabry sent Kingsley Coman steeply with a nice pass, but the Frenchman stumbled all too easily in the penalty area and so rightly didn’t get a penalty or was able to score a goal.
Bayern didn’t increase the pressure massively as a result, but created a few scoring chances. But both Kingsley Coman with his full shot, Benjamin Pavard from a distance and Serge Gnabry with a spectacular-looking but ultimately only semi-dangerous bounce failed. Consistent and understandable: the whistles of the Bayern fans after the half-time whistle.
The rather disappointing Goretzka was not allowed to play after the break, Leroy Sané came on for him. After an hour, Tuchel released Mané and brought Müller, and Ryan Gravenberch also came for Musiala.
However, two players who had already experienced the kick-off on the pitch made it 1-0: Joshua Kimmich chipped from a central position with the utmost precision at his buddy Serge Gnabry, who dynamically jumped his head first to the ball in the penalty area and headed the ball transformed. A goal almost too spectacular for this game. Ten minutes later, Kimmich fitted the ball back into the box, this time his pass reached Coman, who put the lid on this really below-average game with the 2-0.
Bayern Munich – Hertha BSC: The voices
Thomas Tuchel (Bayern Munich coach): “It was about playing with concentration and not allowing anything at the back. We also had to put a few extra meters backwards to do that. It took too long for the first goal, self-confidence is just not the greatest thing at the moment.”
Pal Dardai (Hertha BSC coach): “The team fought. I saw a team – I praise the lads for that. Hopefully some of the players will be healthy again against Stuttgart, and I’m slowly getting to know the lads better. Then after 15 days in office I want to see my handwriting. “
FC Bayern Munich – Hertha BSC: The data for the game
Gates: 1-0 Gnabry (69′), 2-0 Coman (79′)
Yellow cards: Leon Goretzka (25th)
The star of the game: Joshua Kimmich (FCB)
His chip on Gnabry to make it 1-0 was of course wonderful, his deep pass to Coman and 2-0 was no less worth seeing. But Bayern’s central midfielder had already tried to at least boost Bayern’s lame offensive game. Gave by far the most shots to goal, and as always with an almost flawless pass rate. If anyone from Munich really wants to be champions again, it’s him.
The flop of the match: Leon Goretzka (FCB)
Collected more turnovers (seven) than tackles (four, of which only two won) until he was substituted during the break, never managed to structure the game as a liaison player. He also seems to have lost his dynamism, otherwise his trademark.
The referee: Patrick Ittrich
Didn’t show a hint of uncertainty in the first half, always made decisions quickly, consistently – and correctly. His yellow card against Leon Goretzka in the middle of the first half was at best a tad too harsh, and the immediate refusal to take the penalty against Kingsley Coman was completely correct.
