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Bayern Munich 2-1 Wolfsburg, Allianz Arena
(Lewandowski 45 + 1, 50 ‘- Philipp 5’)
In the week that Robert Lewandowski could also be named the Ballon d’Or winner, the Polish striker gave a timely reminder of how good he has become.
In the first half that largely happened to him and Bayern Munich for his part, it was Lewandowski who got up to equalize with practically the last touch of the first 45 minutes. Four minutes into the second half, it was Lewandowski who kept his head to put Bayern ahead.
Five years after his famous five-goal cameo against Wolfsburg, Lewandowski was happy to once again face the team in fluorescent green. This time it wasn’t five goals, but two brought his season tally to 15 and his Bundesliga career tally past 250.
“As a forward, you always have to be selfish,” Lewandowski joked afterward.
That’s what the best players in the world can do, they stick with their team even when they’re not playing well, and for much of this game Bayern didn’t.
In form, Wolfsburg’s initial confidence was as impressive as Maximilian Philipp’s acrobatic starter. The goal put Bayern 1-0 down for six straight Bundesliga games.
“We didn’t play perfect football in the first half, but in the second we were more consistent,” Lewandowski said afterward. “But Wolfsburg played well.”
That statistic speaks to how tired Bayern are, but also how open their defense has been lately. Bayern were too distant, and if it weren’t for David Alaba’s thigh, Philipp would have had an equally impressive blow. It is not just putting down a goal but starting slowly which is a problem for Bayern. While they haven’t lost any of those six games, they have conceded first but tied three of them. For Bayern that is unheard of.
Lost opportunity
So is the defeat of Wolfsburg. Before tonight, they were one of two undefeated teams in the Bundesliga and for the first quarter of an hour they seemed ready to keep that record intact. They were not afraid and took the game to Bayern.
Niklas Süle did a decent job as a right back
A second goal could have done it. Coming to half-time without conceding a goal would have helped, but given that after Wolfsburg, Bayern have scored the most points from a losing position, there was always a feeling that the hosts were going to have their chances.
Lewandowski was denied, also Gnabry and Leroy Sané could not do more with their promising careers. However, in the end, Lewandowski found a way.
Summoning a second wind, Wolfsburg tried to do the same. Hansi Flick’s decision to play Niklas Süle on the right-back to stop a Wolfsburg on the left had largely worked, but when Wolfsburg returned, Süle began to tire. Jerome Roussillon’s cross ended up in the hands of Manuel Neuer and the goalkeeper yelled at his defender: “Nikki, you have to run towards him.”
The next time he ran it was towards Neuer. With six minutes to go, Neuer made one of the biggest saves of his career to deny Bartosz Bialek a goal that is likely to outnumber any other Bundesliga goalkeeper. By the end of the game, Neuer had done as much as Lewandowski to ensure that this victory was for Bayern.
With Wolfsburg defeated, Bayern now turn their attention to the other undefeated side: Leverkusen. Another victory of the weekend will see Bayern give their fans the gift they want: first place in the Bundesliga for Christmas.
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