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Bayern Munich clinch narrow victory against SC Paderborn

By Kiran Thakare

28 September 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, Paderborn: Soccer: Bundesliga, SC Paderborn 07 - FC Bayern Munich, 6th matchday in the Benteler Arena. Goal scorer Philippe Coutinho (2nd from left) from Munich celebrates his goal for 0:2 with Alphonso Davies (l-r), Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski. Photo: Friso Gentsch/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Friso Gentsch/picture alliance via Getty Images)
28 September 2019, North Rhine-Westphalia, Paderborn: Soccer: Bundesliga, SC Paderborn 07 - FC Bayern Munich, 6th matchday in the Benteler Arena. Goal scorer Philippe Coutinho (2nd from left) from Munich celebrates his goal for 0:2 with Alphonso Davies (l-r), Serge Gnabry and Robert Lewandowski. Photo: Friso Gentsch/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga or the DFB Deutscher Fußball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or the match in the form of sequence images and/or video-like photo sequences. (Photo by Friso Gentsch/picture alliance via Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich come away with three points after a narrow 3-2 win over SC Paderborn in gameweek six of the Bundesliga.

Die Roten extend their winning run to three games across all competitions with a 3-2 win over Paderborn. Despite their recent woes, Paderborn made Bayern Munich work hard to get all the three points on Saturday.

Niko Kovac made a couple of changes to the starting lineup that featured against FC Cologne last weekend. Thiago Alcantara came in the side for Corentin Tolisso, while Kingsley Coman replaced Ivan Perisic. The Croatian forward missed this game due to flu.

SC Paderborn started brightly as they showed sharpness in the final third, but Die Roten’s defense handled these awkward moments with ease. At the other end, Lewandowski missed a sitter in the sixth minute after Serge Gnabry squared the ball to him in the box. Philippe Coutinho played a brilliant through ball to Gnabry in the build-up to this move.

The visitors kept on creating chances with ease in the next few minutes but failed to hit the target. Coutinho and Coman created delightful chances for each other only to blaze the final shots way over the goal. The Brazil international was continuing his good form as his footwork in the final third was creating all sort of problems for Paderborn’s defense.

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After missing several chances, Bayern finally broke the deadlock in the 15th minute of the game. Coutinho delivered a dangerous ball from the left flank to find Gnabry on the other side. The German winger calmly slotted the ball past Jannik Huth.

The hosts were given a glimmer of hope at the halfway stage of the first half when Thiago played a bizarre backpass from 40 yards that narrowly missed the goal. After this minor setback, Bayern kept on pressing for the second goal. Coman and Gnabry had good chances to increase the lead, but their shots narrowly missed the target. Bayern went into the break with one goal lead, missing numerous chances to put the game to bed.

Kovac made two changes at half-time with one eye on the game against Tottenham Hotspurs on Tuesday. Alphonso Davies and Javi Martinez came on for Lucas Hernandez and Thiago respectively. Paderborn threatened from corners at the start of the half, but Bayern dominated the proceedings in terms of possession.

The visiting side doubled their lead at 56th minute with a brilliant team goal. Kimmich lobbed a delightful ball over Paderborn’s defense to find Gnabry. The German winger squared the ball for Coutinho, who tapped the ball into the net from point-blank range.

After the hour mark, Gnabry had the chance to grab his second goal of the game when he sweetly latched on to a cross from Coman in the box. It took a tremendous save from Huth to keep that shot away from goal.

Against the run of play, Paderborn came back into the game by scoring in the 70th minute. Mohamed Drager drilled a brilliant ball from the right flank for Kai Proger, who blazed the shot past Manuel Neuer to give hosts a lifeline in the game. The home side had the spring in their foot and started threatening to score the equalizer.

Bayern weathered these waves of attack and restored their two-goal lead in the 79th minute of the game. Lewandowski makes up for his previous miss by scoring a delightful chip after some brilliant work from Coutinho and Niklas Sule. As soon as it was looking that Die Roten will cruise to victory, Paderborn once again found the back of the net, courtesy of a rocket from Jamilu Collins from 30 yards.

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The defending Bundesliga champions held on to their slender lead by cleverly managing the final minutes of the game. This victory helped Bayern to go top of the table as RB Leipzig dropped points against FC Schalke. Die Roten looked sluggish in this game, Kovac will be looking to eradicate this problem in their game against Spurs on Tuesday.