Bayern Munich 4-1 Greuther Furth: Leaders fight back to beat bottom club

Bayern Munich avoided another slip-up in their pursuit of the Bundesliga title, coming from behind to beat the league’s bottom side Greuther Furth 4-1 thanks to a Robert Lewandowski brace.

Julian Nagelsmann’s men went into what most expected to be a routine game enduring a blip in form, having lost their last league fixture at Bochum and been held to a 1-1 draw by Salzburg in the Champions League.

It appeared as if their poor run might be extended when Branimir Hrgota gave Greuther a surprise first-half lead.

However, Lewandowski quickly repaired the damage after the interval and an own goal from Sebastian Griesbeck followed by a late header from the Poland striker and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s injury-time effort gave Bayern an ultimately emphatic win.

Greuther were the more threatening side in the first half and got their reward when captain Hrgota’s free-kick took a significant deflection and found the top-left corner.

But Bayern needed just 30 seconds of the second half to level matters, Lewandowski turning in from Serge Gnabry’s pull back from the right byline was flicked into his path by Choupo-Moting.

The visitors looked increasingly fragile at the back and the turnaround was completed as Thomas Muller’s excellent right-wing cross was deflected onto the unfortunate Griesbeck, who could not avoid turning into his own net.

Bayern were not without their own problems at the back, though, Max Christiansen and Marco Meyerhofer each hitting the post for Greuther, but the points were secured when Lewandowski converted from Niklas Sule’s header back across goal and Choupo-Moting had the final say after being teed up by Gnabry.
 

What does it mean? – Bayern on cloud nine

Bayern were far from their best against a team few expected to cause them problems.

But victory sent them nine points clear of Borussia Dortmund ahead of their rivals’ meeting with Borussia Monchengladbach on Sunday, as Bayern’s pursuit of yet another Bundesliga crown continues.

Nine points adrift of the relegation play-off place, Greuther look destined for a return to the 2. Bundesliga.

No further wait for Lewy

Lewandowski went into this fixture with 26 goals in 22 Bundesliga matches, equalling the record he had at the same stage last season.

His tally now stands at 28 from 23 after a double against the only Bundesliga team he had previously not scored against from the 26 he has faced.

Greuther can’t stop Bayern streak

Bayern have scored in their last 70 games in the Bundesliga and, despite an admirable first-half effort, a side that has now conceded 61 goals was never likely to stop them finding the net at home.

What’s next?

Bayern have a trickier assignment away at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, when Greuther host a Cologne team chasing European football.