It was an unexpectedly hard job for FC Bayern. Against the rear of SC Paderborn, the Bundesliga leader is struggling for a narrow victory. In the Champions League, Munich's Londoners have to be more determined.
Munich (dpa) - FC Bayern secured table number one in the Bundesliga with great difficulty. On Friday evening, thanks to Robert Lewandowski's late goal, the Munich team won 3-2 (1-1) against SC Paderborn, who was threatened with relegation and who remained bottom of the table.
Goalkeeper Lewandowski saved a sedate FC Bayern from an evil negligence in the title fight of the Bundesliga before the Champions League hit at Chelsea. In the home game against the bottom of the table SC Paderborn in the 88th minute with his 25th goal of the season, the striker scored the winning goal for a happy 3: 2 (2: 2).
Previously, the courageously appearing guests in front of 75,000 spectators had equalized twice through Sven Michel (75th) and Dennis Srbeny (44th), who was successful after a mistake by national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. In the 250th home game in the Allianz Arena at home, strong Serge Gnabry (26th) and guaranteed success Lewandowski (70th) had scored the first two Bayern goals.
Despite the moderate performance, with their 194th victory in the 250th league game in the Allianz Arena at home, Bayern brought the direct pursuers RB Leipzig, Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach to the start of the 23rd matchday.
Bayern coach Hansi Flick reacted to the yellow blocks from Jérôme Boateng and Benjamin Pavard with a defensive system change. Joshua Kimmich moved right into a new triple chain with central David Alaba and Lucas Hernández. Full-back Álvaro Odriozola played more aggressively on his debut in the Bundesliga, like his counterpart on the left, Alphonso Davies.
The lineup was hardly a pointer to the alignment in the royal class duel in London on Tuesday. On the offensive, Thomas Müller and Kingsley Coman were spared an hour as a bench press. Philippe Coutinho and Corentin Tolisso were allowed to run in the star team. Leon Goretzka was absent due to muscular problems. His participation against Chelsea is open.
A precise cross on Lewandowski was the first good action of the Spanish winter transfer Odriozola (8th minute), who demonstrated his strengths in the forward movement several times. However, the Bayern game often lacked the precision to play off Paderborn's defense. The Munich team had to wait almost half an hour until the first goal celebration was scheduled.
After passing from Tolisso Gnabry rummaged through the guest defensive and scored his 41st goal in his 100th Bundesliga game. Bayern had the game under control. The consequence was still missing. Lewandowski missed another Odriozola cross (39th). The eager Coutinho finished flat hastily (41.).
Paderborn focused on counter options. Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer prevented foot or chest attempts by the guests far outside his penalty area. But then a libero excursion went wrong. Srbeny lynched the ball and pushed it in to equalize. Since a Tolisso shot deflected by Christian Strohdiek (45. + 1) jumped to the crossbar, the unexpected tie went into the break.
The Munich tried after the restart to invest more, but there were too many ball losses. The actions lacked the right momentum. And then SCP goalkeeper Leopold Zingerle parried twice great against Lewandowski in the 53rd minute. Paderborn limited himself to his options and put up with the injuries to Gerrit Holtmann and also Streli Mamba.
Then Flick brought Müller and Coman, who checked Zingerle shortly afterwards (66th). Against Lewandowski's low shot after Gnabry preparation, the well-placed SCP goalkeeper was then powerless. The decision: with nieces. Bayern remained vulnerable defensively and substitute Michel unreservedly marked the renewed equalization. However, Lewandwoski still had the last word with his late winning goal.
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