Bayern Munich get back to winning ways by beating Bayer Leverkusen
ByPA Sport
Updated 26/11/2016 at 20:23 GMT
Bayern Munich got back to winning ways in the Bundesliga with a 2-1 victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday.
Bayern Munich's defender Mats Hummels (2nd L) celebrates scoring with his teammates during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in Munich, southern Germany, on November 26, 2016.
Image credit: AFP
Thiago Alcantara gave Carlo Ancelotti's men the lead and Mats Hummels headed in a winner, after Hakan Calhanoglu had levelled.
The win came at the end of a week in which Bayern had lost in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, yet it was once again far from convincing from the defending champions.
Bayern came into the game in the unusual situation of not being the Bundesliga leaders. The peculiarity of the situation meant they were still not quite their usual selves.
Douglas Costa's weak header in the 19th minute summed their moment up well - it was not the sharp finish you would expect from the record German champions.
They nevertheless took the lead on the half-hour mark when Philipp Lahm's shot was saved by Bernd Leno, but the ball looped up for Alcantara to nod over the line from close range.
Robert Lewandowski was denied by Leno moments later, while Joshua Kimmich - in an offside position - hit the crossbar with the next loose ball.
Thoughts that Bayern were going to get back into a rhythm were soon dashed, though, as Leverkusen levelled.
Calhanoglu played a neat one-two with Julian Brandt before lifting his shot past Manuel Neuer from a tight angle into the roof of the net.
Wendell slid in well to prevent Lewandowski from cutting into the penalty area from the right late on in a first half which hardly captured the imagination at the Allianz Arena, and the boos from the crowd were telling.
Bayern are not used to losing games at the best of times, but to lose two in just a week is almost unheard of and the home fans had little patience for it.
Their team emerged with something of a point to prove, therefore, and they regained the lead 10 minutes into the second half when Hummels rose to meet Kimmich's corner and head unstoppably into the bottom right corner from seven yards.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2016/11/26/1976787-41531227-2560-1440.jpg)
Bayern Munich's Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara (L) celebrates scoring the opening goal with his teammate Polish striker Robert Lewandowski during the German first division Bundesliga football match between FC Bayern Munich and Bayer 04 Leverkusen in
Image credit: AFP
Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt's reaction was to send Kevin Volland and Javier Hernandez into the action, confirming he had no intention of going down without a fight.
The change opened things up with both sides taking turns to attack, Calhanoglu seeing his effort blocked only seconds before Costa suffered the same fate at the other end.
Leverkusen almost levelled late on when Volland raced onto a ball over the top and chipped it past the onrushing Neuer, but his lob was not on target and he was unable to turn it in with his head from the tightest of angles.
Javi Martinez was covering with him and he appeared to have got a hand to the ball as both clattered into the boards behind the goal, but the lack of any complaint from Volland did not make the referee wonder whether he should have pointed to the penalty spot.
Bayern were let off the hook on that occasion and they were able to hold on for a much-needed win, which returns them to within three points of leaders Leipzig.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement