Bayern Munich shows composure against Werder Bremen to clinch the league title.
A nail-biting game in Bremen ended in the 18th consecutive victory for Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. Werder Bremen fought valiantly but a solitary goal from Robert Lewandowski was enough to see out victory for Die Roten and win their eighth consecutive Bundesliga title.
Hansi Flick made few changes to the starting XI that featured against Borussia Monchengladbach. Thomas Muller and Lewandowski returned from suspension, while Kingsley Coman started in place of Ivan Perisic. The Croatian winger couldn’t shake off the knock he suffered on Saturday to be fit for this game. Alphonso Davies also returns to starting XI after being on the bench last weekend.
Werder Bremen also made few changes to the lineup that crushed Paderborn last weekend. Marco Friedl started against his former club, replacing Ludwig Augustinsson. In the attack, Leonardo Bittencourt started in the attack in place of Joshua Sargent.
Bayern looked charged up when the game kicked off, attacking Bremen’s box straight away. In the early exchanges of the first half, Die Roten were all over the hosts. There were dangerous crosses delivered in the box, but the visiting side could not test Jiri Pavlenka.
After the initial waves of attack settled, Bremen took control of the game. There were some wonderful exchanges between Bremen’s midfielders and forwards as they were getting close to scoring a goal. Rekordmeister stood like a wall, swatting aside every attack initiated from Bremen.
More from Bayern Strikes
- Bayern Munich: Tactical takeaways from 2-2 draw against Bayer Leverkusen
- Bayern Munich: Kingsley Coman set to be fit for Manchester United clash
- Bayern Munich unlikely to move for Trevoh Chalobah in January
- Bayern Munich: Key lessons from draw against Bayer Leverkusen
- Bayern Munich remains keen on hiring Max Eberl
The game was getting intense, both teams fighting for the ball in pissing rain. Coman came close to scoring the opener when his header just went over the crossbar after a delicious cross from the right flank by Muller. Jerome Boateng tested Pavlenka from distance, while Eggestein did the same at the other end.
It looked certain that Bremen has kept Bayern at bay in the first half. However, Boateng came up with a moment of magic to create a goal for Lewandowski. The German defender scooped a ball over Bremen’s defense and Lewandowski slotted the ball into the net to give Die Roten lead before the half time whistle.
Bremen started the second half with purpose after a bitter end to the first half. The home side did look threatening in the final third, but couldn’t muster a good shot on the target. Die Roten meanwhile used all their experience to withstand Bremen’s attacks, defending everything Bremen’s forwards threw at them.
After the hour mark, Die Roten started turning the screw to get the second goal. There were some neat moves in the final third with Lewandowski coming close to scoring when his headed effort was just wide of the target. None other than Muller delivered the sumptuous cross.
The game continued to move like a see-saw as Davies saw a second yellow in the 78th minute as Bremen piled up the pressure in the final third. However, Die Roten looked threatening on the break. Coman almost sealed the game when his powerful shot was saved brilliantly by Pavlenka in the 81st minute.
Manuel Neuer came up with a big save in the 89th minute which turned out to be a match-winning save. Die Roten defended resolutely to see out and clinch the victory. The Bavarians have once again completed a turnaround in the Bundesliga after being trailing in the title race at the end of Hinrunde.
"Werder Bremen (3-4-3)PavlenkaMoisander- Vogt-VeljkovicSelassie-Eggestein- Klaassen- FriedlBittencourt- Rashica- OsakoSubstitutes: Kapino, Selke, Füllkrug (↓Klaassen (83′)), Pizarro(↓Veljkovic (88′)) , Langkamp (↓Vogt (46′)), Sargent (Bittencourt↓(62′)), Bartels (↓Rashica (62′)), Groß, BargfredeBayern Munich (4-2-3-1)NeuerPavard-Boateng-Alaba-DaviesKimmich- GoretzkaGnabry- Muller-ComanLewandowskiSubstitutes: Ulreich, Odriozola, Cuisance, Hernández (↓Gnabry (82′)), Singh, Batista-Meier, Zirkzee, Wriedt, Richards"