It always seemed likely that Bayern Munich’s proposed title win this season was something of an inevitability, and that feeling was confirmed earlier tonight as a late goal saw the champions-elect move to within one win of lifting the title up high for the eighth consecutive year.
On the verge
Bayern were going head to head with an incredibly spirited Borussia Monchengladbach who quite clearly came to spoil the party. Still, it was Joshua Zirkzee, world football’s latest teenage sensation, who put Bayern into the lead after just 25 minutes. An own goal from Benjamin Pavard levelled the game up, and from that point on, Gladbach seemed to grow in confidence whereas the hosts looked sluggish to say the least.
It was 1-1 going into half time, with the absence of Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller supposedly proving quite crucial. The pair have 60 goals and assists between them this season, and you could sense a real lack of a spark from the reigning kings of German foot
Moving forward
Gladbach actually thought they’d been able to take the lead early on, when Jonas Hofmann put the ball in the back of the net before VAR pulled it back for offside. Embolo also missed a sitter, with Bayern’s opener coming as a direct result of a mistake from the visitors – in a day they’ll be hoping to forget pretty quickly.
With four minutes left to play they were made to pay for their wasteful display as Leon Goretzka poked in the winning goal to give Bayern the right to pretty much declare themselves champions. Sure, Borussia Dortmund’s win means there’s still a chance, but all they need to do is defeat Werder Bremen on Tuesday night and they will be celebrating in Bavaria once again.
On the flip side, Monchengladbach have to dust themselves off and get ready for battle once again in a few short days as they get ready to host Wolfsburg. Given the current state of the league table, that’s the kind of game that could wind up deciding whether or not they qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Match Report
Bayern Munich: Neuer (6.5), Hernandez (6), Alaba (6.5), Boateng (7), Pavard (6), Goretzka (7.5), Kimmich (7), Perisic (6.5), Cuisance (6.5), Gnabry (7), Zirkzee (7), Martinez (6), Wriedt (6), Coman (6.5), Davies (6.5)
Borussia Monchengladbach: Sommer (5.5), Lainer (6), Ginter (6), Elvedi (6), Bensebaini (6), Neuhaus (6.5), Kramer (6.5), Herrmann (6), Stindl (7), Hofmann (6.5), Thuram (6), Embolo (6), Wendt (6), Benes (6), Jantschke (6.5)
Referee: Felix Zwayer
Goals: Zirkzee, Goretzka :: Pavard OG
Yellow Cards: Lainer, Bensebaini
Red Cards: N/A
- Soccer News Like
- Be the first of your friends!
