Bayern snatched a laborious victory at home (1-0) against Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday, and was not reassured before their Champions League quarter-final return match on Tuesday against Villarreal (1-0 defeat at the to go).
Passive and soulless in the first half, more inspired after the break and several player changes, Munich finally won on a penalty from Robert Lewandowski in the 82nd minute, for an involuntary handball from a defender.
This victory leaves the defending champion alone in the lead with 9 points ahead of Dortmund five days before the end of the championship.
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Munich continues its road to a tenth consecutive title, and the players were celebrated after the match by the Allianz Arena, full for the first time (75,000 spectators) since November, when a respite in the pandemic had allowed a brief return of the audience in German stadiums.
But this unconvincing new release leaves open the doubts that have beset the “
Rekordmeister
” for a few weeks.
"
I wouldn't go so far as to talk about a lack of confidence
," assured Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka after the match.
but we didn't have a good first half, we lacked intensity, we weren't 100% in the duels and on the second ball.
It will be another match against Villarreal, but we will have to be better, we will do it and we will deliver a match worthy of Bayern
, ”assured the German international.
One wonders, indeed, if what was enough on Saturday to beat the 14th in the Bundesliga will be enough to reverse the score against Villarreal?
A reaction for the less timorous
And even if Bayern succeed, will their current level allow them to go further, as a semi-final looms against the Liverpool of Mo Salah and Sadio Mané?
Against Augsburg, coach Julian Nagelsmann had promised "
a reaction
" after Wednesday's sad performance in Spain.
But against an opponent quite within their reach, the German champions initially showed themselves without rhythm, without apparent desire, and without guiding idea.
At the break, they had still not framed a single shot, and it was even Augsburg who had the best chance (12th), on a bad pass from young Tanguy Nianzou towards Dayot Upamenaco, the two young Frenchmen forming the central hinge of Bayern.
Marcus Thuram goalscorer
At the break, Nagelsmann brought in Jamal Musiala in attack, then Alphonso Davies (57th) and Kingsley Coman (65th).
Good initiative: Bayern then multiplied the opportunities, without however managing to put one in the background.
Lewandowski (overtaken by the 59th goalkeeper), Kimmich (stretched shot, goalkeeper's headline, 63rd), Pavard (head off target 73rd), Musiala (shot off target in the area (74th), put pressure on Augsburg. In the end, it was the inevitable Polish striker Lewandowski who secured the three points, converting a penalty late in the game (82nd), his 32nd goal in the Bundesliga this season.In the other matches, the French duo from Mönchengladbach scored both goals Borussia in the last, Fürth. Marcus Thuram opened the scoring (18th), quickly followed by Alassane Pléa (24th).
are kept afloat in their fight for Europe by beating Mainz 3-2, having trailed 2-0 until the 60th minute.
The "
FC Köln
” is provisionally 7th, only one point from the last European place.
