Enlarge image
Goal scorer Serge Gnabry (2nd from right) celebrates his goal with his teammates
Photo:
INA FASSBENDER / AFP
A few days after the disappointing defeat of the Champions League by FC Villarreal, FC Bayern Munich took a big step towards the championship in the Bundesliga.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann's team won 3-0 (2-0) against Arminia from Bielefeld, who were threatened with relegation.
In front of 26,419 spectators, Serge Gnaby (45'+6') made the preliminary decision in the first half after an own goal by Bielefeld's Jacob Laursen (12').
After the break, Jamal Musiala increased (85th).
Before the championship game, Bayern had had a turbulent week.
After the great frustration in the premier class, death threats against coach Nagelsmann and the apparently still pending decision in contract poker by star striker Robert Lewandowski have caused additional noise in the last few days.
Bayern didn't show it on the field and created chances every minute in the early stages.
The best missed Lewandowski (8th), when his header was deflected by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega on the crossbar.
The Munich lead then scored an own goal – Laursen pushed the ball over the line with his upper body after a header from Alphonso Davies (12').
However, the goal was only recognized by the video referee after an alleged offside position.
Unlucky Laursen had to be substituted before the break with a hamstring injury.
Bayern immediately followed suit, but against unsorted Bielefeld the chances left a lot to be desired.
Leon Goretzka tried in the middle from ten meters, but Ortega parried again (17th).
After that, Lewandowski and Alphonso Davies missed a cross from Thomas Müller (26'), while Serge Gnabry dribbled through the Bielefeld defense (29').
Bielefeld scored to equalize – the goal didn't count because of offside
Arminia shifted to counterattacks.
A goal by Masaya Okugawa was disallowed for offside (43').
Shortly afterwards, the spectators held their breath: in a duel in the air, Bayern's Tanguy Nianzou elbowed Fabian Kunze in the head.
After several minutes of treatment, Kunze had to be taken off the field with a stretcher.
In recent weeks, Arminia's Fabian Klos and Cedric Brunner have suffered serious head injuries.
Nianzou only saw yellow for the action – the spectators acknowledged it in the direction of the referee team with loud whistles and shouts of “slider”.
Then it was very bitter for Arminia: In the seventh minute of added time, Gnabry made it 2-0 after Kimmich lobbed.
Kunze was taken to the hospital for examinations.
Bayern remained superior in the second half, but could hardly create any compelling chances from a lot of possession due to a weak finish and courageous defence.
Bielefeld, on the other hand, was unable to use some of the standards it had fought for due to poor execution.
Shortly before the end, Musiala (85th) scored the final score.
era
