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Saturday 12 December 2020
Lewandowski at least compensates
Mega parade ruined Bavaria’s late triumph
1. FC Union shows why it ranks so high in the Bundesliga rankings. Coach Urs Fischer’s team has had Bayern under control for a long time. Until Robert Lewandowski scores his 13th goal of the season. But for the second time in a row, the Munich team lost points, also thanks to Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe.
Thanks to world footballer candidate Robert Lewandowski, record champion Bayern Munich avoided a nasty surprise in the Bundesliga finals before Christmas. In the passionately fought Underdog Union Berlin, the triple winner scored 1: 1 (0: 1) after a 0: 1 deficit. Despite the third draw of the last four league matches, Munich remains the leader at the moment, ahead of second place in the table, RB Leipzig (both 24 points).
Star forward Lewandowski (67th) secured a point for the big favorite in the capital with his 13th goal of the season. Before that, Union midfielder Grischa Prömel (4th) scored Bayern’s 17th goal in their 11th Bundesliga game. “We made life difficult for ourselves,” Bayern pro Thomas Müller said heading into the 0-1. “Of course, it feels too little for our own needs.”
On the other hand, the mood of the hosts was different: “I am very happy with the point,” said coach Urs Fischer. Christopher Trimmel also described the 1-1 as “fair. It was definitely a very important step forward,” he said.
For the last two tasks before Christmas next week, such a performance from coach Hansi Flick’s team should hardly be enough. On Wednesday (20.30 / sky) Bayern get it at home with VfL Wolfsburg and the following Saturday (6.30 pm / both on the live ticker of ntv.de) away with Bayer Leverkusen, who can take the championship lead on Sunday with a win against TSG Hoffenheim. In the middle, Lewandowski wants to prevail against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on Thursday in the choice of the best footballer on the planet.
Union rewards more top-level players
Lewandowski does what Lewandowski does: score a goal.
(Photo: dpa)
Bayern were lucky from the start against Union at the An der Alten Försterei stadium. After quickly conquering the ball on defense, the hosts exaggerated over the Bavarian lines in the first minute, striker Taiwo Awoyini was free and only missed when Manuel Neuer brilliantly parried. Only minutes later, Prömel headed a corner from Union captain Christopher Trimmel, who passed the far post and into the goal.
Immediately after falling behind, the Champions League winner tried to control the game and play a productive combination game, but that was too rare for dangerous attacks. Compared to the 2-0 win against Lokomotiv Moscow during the week in the premier class, Flick shifted his squad to six spots, including troublesome kid Leroy Sané initially out. However, since Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry on the offense behind Lewandowski, very little initially came in, Union cleared crucial interfaces robustly and set punctures. Almost congruent at the start of the match, Awoyini (22nd) refueled through the Bayern defense and this time aimed beyond the right aluminum in the duel with Neuer.
Munich’s best chances to date were long shots by David Alaba (33rd) and Gnabry (43rd): one passed the goal, the other was rejected by Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe. The guests became a bit more convincing after the half-time break, as Bayern tried again and again to get into the back of the Berlin defense. However, there was often a lack of precision in the passing game.
To gain momentum in the attack, Flick brought in the recently criticized Sané by Jamal Musiala, 17, in the 63rd minute. Lewandowski finally scored the equalizer after a standout solo from Coman through the Berlin ranks and a deliberate pass to the Pole, who only had to insert. As a result, the champions vehemently pressed for the ultimate winner. But Luthe got a close goal from Sané (89th) off the air in time.
