Kingsley Coman struck twice as Bayern Munich recovered from a Leon Goretzka own goal after 13 seconds to get all three points in Augsburg. But Liverpool will be watching on, aware of the chinks in Bayern's armor.
Image: Reuters/A. Gebert
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Augsburg 2-3 Bayern Munich
(Goretzka og 1', Ji 23' — Coman 17', 45'+3, Alaba 53')
Bayern Munich should be concerned ahead of their heavyweight Champions League showdown with Liverpool. Yes, Bayern got three points in Augsburg, and yes, they closed the gap to leaders Borussia Dortmund to two points, but Friday proved that Bayern's weaknesses outstrip its assets by a considerable margin.
Friday night's hosts, Augsburg, went into this game having lost eight of their previous nine Bundesliga games. That figure is now nine in ten, yet Bayern's slapdash defending made them look like an attacking force to be reckoned with. Leon Goretzka set Augsburg moving after just 13 seconds when he inadvertently steered the ball into his own net, raising hopes of a rare Augsburg win against their Bavarian neighbors.
Bayern leveled through Kingsley Coman but opened the door for Augsburg again when Philipp Max crossed for Ji Dong-won, who received the ball after a failed clearance by Niklas Süle. Ji did the rest. Augsburg took their chances in clinical fashion and deserved their lead, but with the greatest respect to the Bundesliga strugglers, once can only imagine what Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah will do to this defense. Jürgen Klopp must be licking his lips.
Manuel Neuer despairs as Bayern go 2-1 down in Augsburg.Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Hassenstein
Coman leveled with the final kick of the first half and David Alaba struck what proved the winner with the game's only moment of real quality, finding the bottom corner with a beautiful strike after he was spotted by Coman. Those two players have proved consistently in recent weeks during Bayern's revival as a title contender that they are Bayern's key goal threats, along with Serge Gnabry.
Bayern have found ways to win games like this even when they're off the pace, largely down to the individual sum of their parts. Alaba proving the savior on this occasion. But for Bayern to overcome the slick machine that is Klopp's Liverpool, they need a new defense. Mats Hummels and Niklas Süle are too slow and too cumbersome to handle any team with pace and power, as we saw when Bayern slumped to defeat in Der Klassiker.
Unfortunately for Bayern, Liverpool have one of the best attacking trios in Europe and the scouting reports being sent back to Anfield on Friday night will report the weaknesses that everyone is aware of but no one seems willing to address. On this evidence, it could be a long night for Niko Kovac's men on Tuesday.
Bundesliga: Matchday 22 roundup
Bayern Munich started the matchday with a comeback win, Dortmund ended it with a shock draw. RB Leipzig, Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg all won comfortably, while Claudio Pizarro defied his age again to save Werder Bremen.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Grimm
Frankfurt 1-1 Mönchengladbach
Denis Zakaria salvaged a point for Gladbach with a late equalizer in Frankfurt — but it could have been so much better for the visitors. Danny da Costa put Frankfurt ahead in first half stoppage time and they appeared on course for victory, but Zakaria's 82nd minute strike restored parity. Gladbach should have won it with the final kick, but Josip Drmic couldn't hit the target from close range.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Grimm
Nuremberg 0-0 Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund struggled once again in attack, managing just a 0-0 draw against bottom-placed Nuremberg. The draw was the fifth consecutive game in all competitions that Dortmund have failed to win. Mario Götze had a few good opportunities, but Nuremberg keeper Christian Mathenia stood strong when tested. Dortmund are now just three points ahead of title rivals Bayern Munich.
Image: AFP/T. Schamberger
Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Bayer Leverkusen moved into fifth, their highest position of the season, with a 2-0 win over Fortuna Düsseldorf. Kai Havertz set them moving with a good finish from Kevin Volland's cross, with Leon Bailey continuing his return to form under Peter Bosz with the second, midway through the second half. Bosz now has four wins in five since taking the reins at Leverkusen. Düsseldorf remain 12th.
Image: Imago/M. Volkmann
Hertha Berlin 1-1 Werder Bremen
A twice-deflected free kick from veteran striker Claudio Pizarro denied Hertha with the last kick of the game. The hosts took a deserved lead after 25 minutes when Davie Selke scored shortly after hitting the post. Ondrej Duda also struck the woodwork as Hertha tried to double their lead. They were left to rue their wastefullness when Pizarro stepped up in the sixth minute of added time.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/S. Franklin
Stuttgart 1-3 RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig remained on course for a return to the Champions League, eventually running out comfortable winners in Stuttgart, where Thomas Hitzlsperger took his place on the home bench for the first time as sporting director. Steven Zuber's penalty cancelled out Yussuf Poulsen's early strike but a classy Marcel Sabitzer free kick and a second Poulsen goal wrapped up all three points.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/C. Kaspar-Bartke
Hoffenheim 3-0 Hannover
Joelinton continued his impressive debut Bundesliga season with the opener in a straightforward home win for Julian Nagelsmann's side that keeps them in the European picture. Kerem Demirbay, who impressed all game, created the second for Ishak Belfodil before adding the third himself ten minutes from time.
Image: Getty Images/Bongarts/A. Grimm
Schalke 0-0 Freiburg
A red card for this dangerous tackle from Suat Serdar (right) was the major talking point of a drab draw. In a game of few chances, Freiburg thought they had a golden opportunity late on but the VAR over-ruled a penalty initially awarded for handball, before Freiburg's Christian Günter saw red late on. The result means both sides edge a point close to safety.
Image: Imago/M. Müller
Wolfsburg 3-0 Mainz
A first goal of the season from Maximilian Arnold (second from right) sent the Wolves fifth, for a day at least. Arnold's fourth-minute strike set the tone of the match early and it was little surprise when Wout Weghorst put away a penalty to double the hosts' lead in the second half. Robin Knoche was in the right place to grab the scrappy third late on.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/P. Steffen
Augsburg 2-3 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich moved to within two points of Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table with a comeback win in Augsburg on Friday. Leon Goretzka scored an own goal after 13 seconds, and Bayern twice fought back through Kingsley Coman goals to go in level at the break. David Alaba provided the game's only moment of quality early in the second half, collecting Coman's pass and striking a fine winner.
