Bayern Munich 1-0 Hamburg- Match Report
Bayern Munich continued their winning run in the Bundesliga as they scrapped to a close 1-0 win over Hamburg at Volksparkstadion. Joshuan Kimmich maintained his scoring run as he scored in the last few minutes of the game.
Carlo Ancelloti made numerous changes to the squad which faced Hertha Berlin on Wednesday.Mats Hummels came back in the back four partnering Javi Martinez. The midfield was shuffled as Renato Sanches and Joshua Kimmich replaced Xabi Alonso and Arturo Vidal. Kingsley Coman started on the left flank replacing Franck Ribery.
The Bavarians had a shaky start in the first half as the hosts were dominating the game by greating chances. It took some time for Ancelloti’s men to settle and dictate play. Thiago was the midfielder who sat in front of defence initiated the attacking moves from deep. The first good chance of the game fell at Robert Lewandwoski headed wide from a pinpoint cross from David Alaba.
The home side continued to work hard on and off the ball to give Bayern less space in the final third. In this process they created decent chances on the break but Martinez and Hummels were strong at the back. The defending champions came close at the end of the first half Coman almost headed the ball into the net.
Ancelloti had to made changes early in the half as injured Hummels was replaced by Jerome Boateng. He also brought on Ribery and Vidal for teenagers Coman and Sanches in order to find the winner. The home side were resilient as Rene Adler made numerous goal saving changes which kept the game goalless. Alaba came closest to scoring with a sublime frrekick in the final quarter of the game.
Lewandowski and Muller were quiet throughout the game but linked well in the end as Bayern rallied for the goal. Muller had a great effort saved by Adler at the stroke of 80th minute. After some heroic defending Hamburg suffered a lapse in concentration at 88th minute. A poor clearence allowed Thiago to play Ribery at the left flank and the Frenchman found Kimmich at the backpost with the cross. Carlo Ancelloti late admitted that it was a tough game for Bayern as Adler was at his best.
"“It was a very difficult game, particularly in the first half. Hamburg played with a very high intensity.”"
The German champions faced a similar situation against Schalke at the start of the season. Ancelloti will now focus on the big game in Champions League against Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon on Thursday.