SC Freiburg 0-1 Bayern Munich: Matthijs de Ligt stunner gives Thomas Tuchel’s side crucial win in Bundesliga
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 08/04/2023 at 16:12 GMT
Bayern Munich kept their two-point lead over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race after a stunning goal from Matthijs de Ligt against SC Freiburg. Thomas Tuchel’s side found it hard to break down the home team in the first half, before De Ligt changed the complexion of the match with his 25-yard strike from outside of the box. Next for Bayern is Manchester City in the Champions League.
Klopp feels Liverpool need to make ‘smart changes’ in order to bounce back to their best
Bayern Munich had Matthijs de Ligt’s brilliant strike to thank for after a nervy 1-0 win at Freiburg on Saturday afternoon.
Bayern hoped to go five points clear with a win, while Freiburg were chasing their own Champions League spot for next season, before fifth-placed RB Leipzig faced Hertha Berlin later on Saturday.
However, Thomas Tuchel’s side struggled in the first half with a lack of creativity, with Sadio Mane missing a good chance to score for the first time since the World Cup break.
The two teams had met in mid-week in the Pokal Cup, which Freiburg won 2-1, and they came closest to the lead in the first 45 when Ritsu Doan hit the post after some sloppy defending from Alphonso Davies.
In the second half, De Ligt hit a superb strike from distance to break the deadlock in the 51st minute, then Bayern had a penalty appeal turned down shortly after as they started to assert their dominance.
Leroy Sane missed two excellent chances to add to the scoreline, but Tuchel and Bayern had to settle for a hard-fought win courtesy of a single strike.
They remain two points ahead of Borussia Dortmund after they beat Union Berlin 2-1, with seven games to go in the season.
Talking point - Bayern lack fluency
Thomas Tuchel has proven himself to be capable of producing attacking, entertaining teams at Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund, but he still has it all to do with his new side.
Bayern struggled to move the ball quickly and with Robert Lewandowski settled at Barcelona, they need Leroy Sane and Sadio Mane to step up and rediscover their best form in front of goal.
If they don’t, Tuchel will need to overhaul the squad in the summer with the best strikers all in demand across Europe, and the pressure will be back on the German once again, just as it was at Stamford Bridge.
Player of the match - Yann Sommer (Bayern Munich)
Stepping in this winter as a replacement for the injured Manuel Neuer, Yann Sommer demonstrated the vital ability to be alive to the rare threat that came his way on the odd moments Bayern were without the ball.
Player ratings
Freiburg: Flekken 7, Gulden 6, Sildillia 6, Hofler 6, Ginter 6, Gunter 6, Grifo 6, Gregoritsch 6, Doan 7, Eggestein 6, Holer 6. Subs: Lienhart 6, Kubler 6, Sallai 6, Jeong 6, Weisshaupt 6.
Bayern Munich: Sommer 7, De Ligt 7, Pavard 6, Cancelo 6, Davies 6, Kimmich 6, Gnabry 6, Sane 6, Muller 6, Musiala 6, Mane 6. Subs: Goretzka 6, Gravenberch 6, Mazraoui 6, Stanisic 6.
Key events
9’ - GNABRY CHANCE - Musiala dances into the box, clips the ball into the six-yard box for Gnabry to leap and head towards goal, and Flekken leaps smartly to his right with a strong wrist.
34’ - PAVARD CHANCE - A corner from the left is nodded down into the path of Pavard, and two deflections take the sting off a well-hit volley at close range.
44’ - FREIBURG HIT THE WOODWORK - Doan has the best chance for the home side so far, with Davies not paying attention at the back post, and the forward steps in with a lunge and strikes the post.
52’ - GOAL! FREIBURG 0-1 BAYERN - DE LIGT SCORES - The defender receives the ball 25 yards out, takes a touch to move the ball in front of him, and he swerves a shot into the top corner.
57’ - FLEKKEN STOP - A diving header - I think from Mane - gets across his marker and Flekken leaps to get it away.
70’ - SALLAI SHOT- He waits for a dropping ball on the left-hand side of the box and rattles a well-hit volley along the ground at goal, but Sommer is down quickly to block.
Key stat
Bayern Munich managed 22 shots on goal with 67% possession, but scored just once.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article