15.30 Kickoffs: Bayern hold off Freiburg, Bielefeld and Bochum earn upset wins
Record Champions Bayern München were able to hold off a spirited and gallant Freiburg side and held on to win 2-1 at the Allianz. As a result, the FCB will enter the international break in first place.
In an immensely entertaining set of 15:30 kickoffs, there were no draws in the other three fixtures. Wolfsburg won their third straight under Florian Kohfeldt.
Arminia Bielefeld and VfL Bochum also pulled off upsets to make the table much more interesting.
In an immensely entertaining set of 15:30 kickoffs, there were no draws in the other three fixtures. Wolfsburg won their third straight under Florian Kohfeldt.
Arminia Bielefeld and VfL Bochum also pulled off upsets to make the table much more interesting.
| Robert Lewandowski |
Bayern trainer Nagelsmann rotated some personnel from the midweek Champions' League win over Benfica. The team's basic shape still remained there same. Niklas Süle and Lucas Hernandez entered to join Dayot Upamecano in a back-three. Thomas Müller came in to take Serge Gnabry's place in a clear 3-4-2-1. Breisgauer gaffer Christian Streich rolled out another 3-4-3. This variant was more defensively oriented, with defender Manuel Gulde taking the place of striker Kevin Schade.
The brave BaWü guests certainly kept Bayern on their toes during what was a very intrepid opening 25 minutes from the underdogs. A undisguised high SCF press meant that the two sides produced an equal amount of scoring chances in the early going. Freiburg repeated won back second balls via the high press. Lucas Höler, Maximilian Eggestein, and Woo-Yeong Jeong all got decent efforts in. Bayern began to look a bit more dangerous as the half-hour mark approached.
Keeper Mark Flekken proved capable of preserving the 0-0 scoreline with a pair of vital saves. Precisely at the half-hour-mark, however, a quick combo involving Dayot Upamecano, Thomas Müller, and Leon Goretzka eventually allowed Goretzka to sneak into the penalty area unmarked for a return ball. The German national team midfielder finished easily in acres of space to give the hosts the 1-0. Freiburg were unable to produce much of anything for the duration of the half. Bayern engineered a few more close calls.
Streich's crew put a great deal of running in after the restart. No one could accuse the Breisgauer of not trying to level the score. Unfortunately, enervation seemed to take its toll whenever the SCF reached the final third. Far too often, there weren't enough players committed forward on rushes or there simply weren't ideas for how to play the final ball into the box. Bayern, meanwhile, were centimeters away from extending their lead on numerous occasions. Both Goretzka and Lewandowski hit the post.
Finally, fifteen minutes from time, the quality of the Bavarian hosts enabled the decision. Alphonso Davies cut through with speed on the left, shuffling off to Leroy Sané upon entering the box. Sané stuck out a boot, extending the ball toward the goal-line with dubious intent. In any case, Lewandowksi was on hand to finish from close range.
To their credit, Freiburg kept trying despite falling down 0-2. Substitutes Schade and Ermedin Demirovic came close with their own efforts down the stretch. A third substitute, Janik Haberer, was able to pull back a goal with a very nice move and finish at 90+3. Three additional minutes of stoppage time were played after that, with Bayern getting the better opportunities to extend their lead.
Elsewhere in the Bundesliga's 15:30 kickoffs, new VfL Wolfsburg trainer Florian Kohfeldt has now won his first three matches in charge of Germany's green company team. The narrow 1-0 win over Augsburg featured a nervy second half. Lukas Nmecha put the German Wolves ahead in the first half. After that, the FCA looked the better team. The Fuggerstädter nevertheless couldn't equalize.
In another match that finished with a 1-0 scoreline, Arminia Bielefeld were able to get their first win of the season. An early Masaya Okugawa goal proved the difference as the DSC upset Stuttgart at home. Three points for the DSC and none for the VfB tightens up the relegation race. Fourteenth placed Stuttgart are now just two points ahead of 17th placed Bielefeld.
In a fairly big surprise, Bochum were able to upset Hoffenheim 2-0. Veterans Soma Novothny and Milos Pantovic both scored late goals off the bench to lift their team over the favored Kraichgauer at home. Bochum have now won three of their last four league fixtures in addition to beating a league opponent in the cup.
The 1848ers move up to 12th place in the table on 13 points through 11 rounds.