FC Bayern has returned with an exclamation mark in the title race. Coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team defeated SC Freiburg, who had been unbeaten for two months, 5-0 (2-0) in the top game at the end of the 10th matchday and climbed to second place in the Bundesliga table.
Serge Gnabry (13th) gave Bayern the lead in the sold-out Allianz Arena with a header. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (33rd) expanded this before the break. After the break, Leroy Sané (52′), Sadio Mané (55′) and substitute Marcel Sabitzer (80′) made things clear.
Bayern can feel like a winner of the match day with the win, ousted SC Freiburg from second place and are now four points behind leaders Union Berlin, who previously consolidated their position with a 2-0 win against BVB would have.
Bayern continue on Wednesday in the second round of the DFB Cup at FC Augsburg, in the Bundesliga next Saturday the game at TSG Hoffenheim is on the agenda.
FC Bayern Munich – SC Freiburg: The analysis
The recently tense personnel situation at Bayern had already eased significantly in advance. Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann brought four new players to the 4-2 win at Viktoria Pilsen in the Champions League: Matthijs de Ligt, Alphonso Davies and Serge Gnabry returned to the starting XI after injuries, while Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting gave his starting XI in attack Debut this season as Thomas Muller didn’t make the squad due to back problems. Jamal Musiala initially sat on the bench after surviving the corona infection.
Freiburg coach Christian Streich rotated back after the Europa League appearance in Nantes (4-0). Kevin Schade made his debut as a substitute for the missing Daniel-Kofi Kyereh. In addition, regular players Michael Gregoritsch, Kiliann Sildillia and Maximilian Eggestein returned to the starting eleven.
The basic tactical arrangement at Bayern was initially a variable 4-1-4-1, with Leon Goretzka acting a little more offensively as eighth and captain Joshua Kimmich playing the sole six. After initial problems, the Munich team tried to succeed with quick vertical passes through the centre, but the Freiburg defense initially prevented this with good positional play. A first good shift to the left wing via Sadio Mané finally led to the opening goal by Serge Gnabry (13th).
After almost half an hour, Nagelsmann gave the order to press higher via “Messenger” Ulreich. Sané advanced even further in the centre, Bayern were very high overall and tried to tighten the noose with a dominant game – with success. After a fine pass from Sané with an outside instep, Choupo-Moting was successful from a tight angle (33′). Freiburg broke through on the left wing occasionally, but did not know how to use the unexpected free space due to their own inaccuracies. Goalkeeper Mark Flekken saved the SC with a foot defense (40th) before the supposed knockout before the break.
The first few minutes of the second half belonged to Freiburg, but Bayern ended the timid hopes of catching up with a double strike: After a one-two with Choupo-Moting, Sané (52nd) placed the ball into the left corner. Then Mané (55th) lobbed the ball over Flekken into the net, which is worth seeing. SC coach Christian Streich reacted with a triple change, meanwhile Bayern switched to administration mode. Jamal Musiala made his comeback in the 66th minute, Choupo-Moting vacated his seat and received a standing ovation.
FC Bayern Munich – SC Freiburg: The data for the game
FC Bayern Munich: Ulreich – Mazraoui (79th Stanisic), Upamecano, de Ligt (76th Pavard), Davies – Kimmich – Gnabry, Sané (76th Tel), Goretzka (76th Sabitzer), Mané – Choupo-Moting (65th Musiala)
The representative of the ailing Thomas Müller was the target player in Bayern’s offensive as a classic nine, but kept falling and was a co-initiator of many attacks. Choupo-Moting crowned his performance with his Lewandowski-style goal from a tight angle just before the break, and he also set Sané’s goal with a back heel, which is well worth seeing.
The flop of the game: Michael Gregoritsch
Freiburg’s top scorer symbolized the harmless offensive by the Breisgau team, who didn’t score a single shot on goal in the first half. In the course of a three-man substitution, Gregoritsch had to call it a day shortly after the break, his only 13 ball actions showed that the game largely passed him by.
The referee: Sascha Stegemann
The 37-year-old from Niederkassel had the largely fair game under control without any problems, only shortly after the break did he correctly draw a yellow card for two fouls in midfield against two Freiburg players. In the final phase it got a little more heated for a short time, so Stegemann also pulled out a yellow card against the vehemently protesting SC coach Streich.
