Robert Lewandowski downed a stubborn Werder Bremen side, as a quick-fire brace in the second half helped Bayern Munich overcome Alexander Nouri’s men.
Die Roten entered the game as usual favorites, as Robert Lewandowski, Frank Ribery and Arjen Robben were given the task of spearheading a Bayern Munich attack that still looked rusty from the off-season.
The game had a usual beginning as Bayern started with their dominance in possession. The home side barely had a touch of the ball in the opening minutes.
However, the visitors were confronted by a resilient green wall of defense. Alexander Nouri’s men did all the running and covered ground quickly to block potential goal-scoring chances, which forced Bayern to depend on hopeless long shots.
Robert Lewandowski cut the figure of a bystander in the first-half. But, his new team-mate Corentin Tolisso almost put the visitors in front when his volley rattled the crossbar in the seventh minute.
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Despite the home side’s resilience, Bayern’s players ensured that the chances kept coming. Bremen’s debutant in-goal, Jiri Pavlenka, had to get down quickly to keep David Alaba’s audacious pile driver out.
As the game progressed further and reached near the half-hour mark, Werder Bremen started believing that it could, after all, be their day. Mats Hummels had to make a crucial block on a Thomas Delany shot in the 29th minute, before his fellow center-back Niklas Sule cleared the loose ball off the line.
Bayern would have another glorious chance before the end of the first half, but Arjen Robben’s header rolled just wide of the line.
Bremen’s stubborn defense continued frustrating the visitors after the restart. But after almost an hour of constant running, the river islanders simply ran out of steam.
Bayern introduced Kingsley Coman into the attack in the 64th minute, who replaced a largely ineffective Arjen Robben. As fate would have it, it was the French starlet’s daunting pace that proved to be the incisive factor for Bayern finally taking the lead.
What a cheeky finish for Lewandowski's first goal of the game! 😏 #SVWFCB #Bundesliga https://t.co/Kfxo2X6Ccl
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 26, 2017
Following a few exchanges in the midfield, Arturo Vidal played a hopeful ball towards the right flank. Coman got the ball under control with an incredible first touch before he performed a slight feint and sent a low cross towards goal. Robert Lewandowski finished off a skillful move in the 72nd with an equally skilled back heel, as Bayern finally seemed to get their mojo back.
It didn’t take the Pole much time to add another goal to his name. Thomas Muller came off the bench and found himself at the end of a long ball played from Bayern’s defense. The German’s timed run opened up a lot of space behind Bremen’s defense, which was occupied by Lewandowski who received the ball from Muller and surged towards Bremen’s box before scoring a fantastic goal through the legs of Pavlenko in the 75th minute.
Next: Bayern Munich down Werder Bremen -- player grades
Lewandowski’s second proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Alexander Nouri’s men who haven’t had a taste of victory over their Bavarian counterparts in more than nine years. As for Bayern, this win ensured that they remain on top of the table before they make the trip to Hoffenheim after the Bundesliga restarts.