Bayern Munich cruised to a comfortable victory against Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern Munich maintained their unbeaten run in 2020 when they played away at Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday. Goals from Robert Lewandowski, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman made sure Die Roten return home with three points after an early scare from Leverkusen. Lukas Alario and Florian Wirtz grabbed the goals for Leverkusen.
Hansi Flick made one change to the starting XI. Jerome Boateng came back in the starting lineup while Lucas Hernandez drops on the bench. Thiago Alcantara is also back in the squad after missing the last three league games due to adductor problems.
Meanwhile, Peter Bosz made four changes to his team. Kai Havertz missed out due to muscle problems. He was replaced by Lucas Alario. Karim Bellarbi replaced Daley Singkraven while Florian Writz made way for Moussa Diaby. Edmond Tapsoba started in the place of Jonathan Tah.
It was an intense start to the game as both sides pressed aggressively and created half-decent chances. The hosts looked formidable in the final third, and they eventually got the reward for their perseverance as Alario opened the scoring. Leverkusen pounced on David Alaba’s mistake at the back, while Alario’s cute finish did the rest of the damage work.
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The home side had momentum on their side. They looked threatening everytime they went ahead. However, Die Roten saw out these waves of attack and started dictating the tempo of the game. They started creating chances in the final third as Joshua Kimmich delivered a brilliant ball from a corner, but Goretzka’s header was easily saved by Lukas Hradecky.
Bayern finally took their chance to score the equalized in the 27th minute. Goretzka won the ball in the midfield and played a delightful pass for Coman. The French winger showed composure to deposit the ball in the goal during a one vs one situation with Hradecky. Leverkusen found themselves on the backfoot after Die Roten got the equalizer.
Goretzka once again showed his all-round midfield abilities by latching on to a squared pass from Thomas Muller to score in the 42nd minute. The German midfielder had started and finished a phenomenal counter-attacking move.
Bayern was running rampant as they ended the half with another goal to double their lead. Gnabry made a darting run on the right flank. He was found by a pinpoint pass from Kimmich. The German winger chipped the ball over Hradecky to score his 12th league goal of the season. Lewandowski and Muller were awarded their fifth yellow card of this season in the first half. They will be suspended for the game against Borussia Monchengladbach next weekend.
Leverkusen started the second half positively, but it didn’t last long for them as Die Roten formed a strong defensive structure to nullify their attack. The visitors had two golden opportunities to put the game to bed when Coman and Gnabry couldn’t find the target from close range. What the young winger couldn’t do, Lewandowski managed to do in 66th minute. The Polish striker headed in from point-blank range after Muller delivered an inch-perfect cross.
The hosts did get a consolation goal in the end as Florian Wirtz scored his first goal for Leverkusen by curling it past Manuel Neuer from the edge of the box. Similar to the game against Borussia Dortmund, Die Roten saw out the game by keeping possession and defending resolutely in the second half. The victory against Leverkusen meant that Rekordmeister needs only two wins to clinch the Bundesliga title.
"Bayern Munich- (4-2-3-1)NeuerPavard-Boateng-Alaba-DaviesGoretzka-KimmichComan-Muller-GnabryLewandowskiSubstitutes- Ulreich, Odriozola, Thiago (↓Gnabry (74′)), Martínez (↓Goretzka (74′)), Perisic (↓ Coman (66′)), Hernandez (↓Davies (85′)), Singh, Zirkzee.Bayer Leverkusen- (3-4-3)HradeckyS. Bender- Dragovic-TapsobaAmiri-Baumgartlinger-Aranguiz- BellarabiDiaby- Alario- BaileySubstitutes- Ozcan, Tah, Wendell (↓Bailey (46′)), Weiser, Demirbay (↓Amiri (46′), Palacios, Wirtz (↓Bellarabi (46′)), Paulinho (↓Baumgarlinger (62′)), Volland (↓Alario (76′))"