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Salzburg lost for the first time this Bundesliga season and the way they played was especially worrying. “That was very embarrassing for us,” said Salzburg goalkeeper Cican Stankovic. This evaluation was particularly appropriate for the first quarter of an hour after the break. Ivan Ljubic (48th) started the guest’s victory, and Jakob Jantscher followed with a double (53rd, 59th) as in the best times (also in Salzburg).
“It wasn’t us, and Sturm played the way we wanted to. That was the reason we lost ”, analyzed the ÖFB team goalkeeper. The first half “was not good enough”, in the second half “a lot of things went wrong”. “It really hurts. The only positive was that there were no spectators.”
Sturm surprised against Salzburg
Sturm Graz has inflicted its first defeat this season on leader Salzburg. Graz celebrates a 3-1 away win.
Coach Jesse Marsch saw it in a similar way. The third league loss in their 40th game was the clearest after two 2: 3s last season, once against LASK (February 12) and once at Altach (March 2). “I am very, very disappointed. Sturm had much more will than us, he won more duels, running duels and aerial duels. We were second in almost every situation,” had to admit the American, who described the performance after the game as “immature. ”.
March calls for a “good reaction”
Four changes from 1-1 at Rapid was probably too many. Without Maximilian Wöber and Andreas Ulmer, the defense, already vulnerable this season, lacked greater stability. In any case, the 20-year summer access that Oumar Solet could not guarantee was too far behind the rival on Ljubic’s first goal. But the “Bulls” also owed a lot in the game that awaited them, the best opportunities played were few, the remarkable goal of Mergim Berisha (86th) was the exception.
But it was clear that the locals’ game worked better in the last half hour. With Wöber, Ulmer and Sekou Koita, three regular workers entered. “We played better then,” Marsch said. That’s one of the reasons he tried to look to the future in a positive way: “The guys played very well for most of the season and not well enough today. The task now is to show a good reaction. Hopefully we can learn from the important lesson and offer something completely different against Bayern. “
In the long-successful 2: 6 first leg in Salzburg, it was only at the end that the record-breaking German champions got into the goal frenzy. “You cannot present yourself like today. Good night, if we play like this in the Champions League, ”said Stankovic. If the march’s protégés want to have a voice in the fight for promotion, counting is important after just one point in three games. It is quite possible that they already had the highlights in Munich in mind.
Meeting deadlines and injuries are no excuses for Bavaria
Bayern had a preview of the difficult year-end streak in a 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen. “Now we have four weeks with eight games to play, so we have to adapt to that,” said coach Hansi Flick after his 50th competitive game with Bayern.
“But we won’t be persuaded that it’s too good now,” Flick clarified. The successful coach doesn’t want to use dating search as an excuse. Neither did the dropout list, which got a bit longer due to Lucas Hernández’s injury on Saturday. “We have enough players on board, even if it’s a little tight in certain positions,” Flick said, referring to the defensive midfield and left-back position. “We have to be creative.”
Outstanding goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and Kingsley Coman’s draw prevented the first home loss to Werder in a year. But the victory lost against the favorite opponent, who had always been defeated in ten years, hinted at the hard work that lay ahead in a grueling run up to Christmas.
“You have to believe in us”
Against the brave and disciplined guests, the league leaders lacked creativity and there were vulnerabilities on defense around David Alaba. Neuer had to intervene more often than he would have liked. With strong saves, the captain, who was so consumed after the 6-0 debacle of the national team, took at least one point.
As a leader in the Bundesliga and the Champions League, Munich is still on course, but the number of tough appearances is increasing compared to the impressive triple season. “Basically not bad at all, that was the first draw, and we also lost. We have to believe in ourselves, trust each other, ”said Neuer, who was able to help reduce frustration after the international defeat with his brilliant parades. “I’ve already done it in training.”
Neuer was the only national player to start four days after Spain’s defeat in Bayern’s starting lineup. León Goretzka arrived in the 19th minute for Hernández, who crashed to the ground after an aerial duel. “He’s had trouble performing,” Flick said. Team players Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry fought in vain for the winning goal in the final.
Niklas Süle was left out for lack of training and observed the side of midfielder Joshua Kimmich that was more absent and left-back Alphonso Davies injured. “We have to handle the load sensibly,” Flick said. “But even those who started have the quality to beat Bremen.”
“Quit the game annoying”
Attacking very little came from midfield for a long time, star striker Robert Lewandowski remained without penetration. There was also a defensive problem. Javi Martínez was cheated before the 0-1. “A very, very cheap goal,” said Thomas Müller. “Many days we continue to win games like this, but this time it didn’t work out. That’s why we left the game very angry. “
Before the three games of the premier category and the five of the Bundesliga this year, Flick took away the important knowledge that the will of the series champion remains great. “The team tried everything in the second half. She has the mindset. That’s what really impresses me, “said the 55-year-old. His record is also impressive: 50 games, 45 wins, two draws and three losses.
