3 against Leipzig thanks to Müller

AAs Niklas Süle and Jérôme Boateng ran into the center circle, they yelled at them from behind. It was difficult to understand exactly what Manuel Neuer had to say, but one thing is certain: he did not praise his centrals. They had left their goalkeeper alone in the six-yard area with Leipzig’s Emil Forsberg. When the ball landed on his head, Boateng was too far forward and Süle too far back. Neuer couldn’t do anything else except get angry. For the third time he had to get the ball out of his goal that night. And only 48 minutes had passed.

On Saturday night Bayern Munich conceded three goals from RB in their own stadium, but have yet to lose. It was an exciting and fast-paced Bundesliga game that ended with the result it deserved: 3: 3. “That was a great game with two teams that really wanted to win. It was great to be able to stand on the field. You live for games like this, “he said
Forsberg in Sky. And yet Leipzig’s rivals were allowed to be a bit upset afterwards. When Forsberg headed the ball into goal, they led 3-2. They could have won, and that was not exactly what was expected.

For more than a year it hasn’t been a good time to play Hansi-Flick-Bayern, they just never give up, but the Leipzigers have caught a particularly unfavorable one from their point of view. Last Wednesday they had to beat Basaksehir Istanbul in the Champions League (and only do so in the 92nd minute). They have to repeat that against Manchester United next Tuesday.

“If we want to advance in the Champions League, we have to win,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said before the game. “If we don’t beat Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, we have a few more games left to achieve our goals.” Afterwards, Nagelsmann spoke of a “passionate match” and added, ahead of the Manchester game: “This is the knockout stage of the Champions League. Therefore, it is worth cheating everything.”

Manchester more important than Munich? At most, two decisions by Nagelsmann indicated this: regulars Yussuf Poulsen and Dani Olmo just sat on the bench. But maybe there was a strategic idea behind it. Because Nagelsmann only prepares players who are unusually fast in attack, with the exception of the ingenious ball dealer Forsberg. They switched immediately when the ball was stolen from Bayern. Often, it has only been a few seconds from the conquest to the shot on goal.

In the 19th minute it worked particularly well. It started with a poor pass from Thomas Müller, and only seconds later Forsberg got ahead of Christopher Nkunku. Boateng and Süle escaped, and suddenly Manuel Neuer stood in front of him in front of the penalty area. And what was Nkunku doing? He simply played with Neuer, who for once had not found the right moment. 1-0 for Leipzig.

At this point at the latest you should also name the problems that Flick has to solve at the moment. He missed Joshua Kimmich and Corentin Tolisso in midfield. And because Lucas Hernández was out on short notice, David Alaba, actually a defender, had to help as a left back. Javi Martínez also injured his thigh in the first half. You are suspected of having a torn muscle fiber. “I still don’t know how difficult it is,” Flick said after the game. He switched to 17-year-old Jamal Musiala, who is always noticeable on the grass because his arms and legs are thinner than anyone else’s.

With Musiala, however, Bayern’s attacking game changed. Got better. Musiala was only on the grass for five minutes when he shot with his thin leg from 18 meters with such force that the ball landed unsustainably in goal – 1: 1 (30). Müller and Kingsley Coman had previously unlocked it. It was the two coaches who re-created 2-1 five minutes later. Coman entered the penalty area, Müller shot inside. And when the stadium announcer had just announced Müller’s name, he had to raise the microphone again: Justin Kluivert scored 2-2 (36th). What a half!

When the game was restarted, the next goal followed. Angelino’s center, Forsberg’s header. At the lightning table, Leipzig beat Munich. New roared. There was a lot of abuse in general in this top game. From the coaches, from the players. It was something that could not be overlooked and, above all, could not be heard. One of the loudest scored the last goal of the afternoon. Müller, who had avoided a Bayern loss to Atlético during the week, headed the ball into the goal in the 75th minute to make it 3: 3. The more conspicuous attackers at his side had helped him. The flank came from Coman and the passage to Coman from, of course, Musiala.

However, Müller was not entirely satisfied. “For me, there were too many turnovers with me,” he said self-deprecatingly to Sky. “It wasn’t all perfect. Of course he doesn’t score two goals in every game, I’m happy with the action. But even with me personally there would have been more today. ” That the Munich team could come back, “we knew before the game. We not only knew that we had to go back now, ”Müller said. “In the end, we have to live with it.” In general, it is “good and it is good that we continue to be leaders in the table”.