Bayern Munich's six consecutive titles have been marked by finding any way to win. That hasn't always been the case this term, but their 1-0 win over a stubborn Werder Bremen team bore the hallmarks of a champion side.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Balk
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"We're playing against the strongest squad in Germany but we have an idea," said Werder Bremen coach Florian Kohfeldt just before his side strode in to the Munich sun as the latest supporting characters in the Bundesliga title story.
Bremen, who also play Bayern in the German Cup on Wednesday, came into this game against the Bundesliga leaders as one of only two sides in Europe's major leagues to have scored in each of their league games (the other being Paris Saint-Germain). Kohfeldt's plan didn't rely on Bremen's most obvious strength and it took some mental and tactical strength for Bayern to overcome it.
The Green and Whites were set up to frustrate and to maintain another streak — their unbeaten record in 2019. The visitors were compact, organized and happy to be a little physical. Theodor Gebre Selassie thundered into Kingsley Coman either side of the break, frustrating the French winger, while Milos Veljkovic took an early yellow for dumping Robert Lewandowski to the turf as the striker tried to turn in the 18th minute.
Bundesliga roundup: Matchday 30
A first career brace for Marcel Halstenberg helped RB Leipzig take another step towards a Champions League return. Bayern got past Werder Bremen, Markus Weinzierl got the chop and Dortmund strolled in Freiburg.
Image: imago/U. Kraft
Freiburg 0 - 4 Borussia Dortmund
Second placed Dortmund cut Bayern Munich's lead to a point with a confident and classy display. Jadon Sancho (left) was on the end of a lovely team move to open the scoring before Marco Reus (center) and Mario Götze (second from right) made it three. Paco Alcacer stepped off the bench to drill home a late penalty.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Gollnow
Hertha Berlin 0 - 0 Hannover
There was plenty of sweat and toil but little in the way of inspiration in this battle of two clubs at the wrong end of the table. Hertha at least ended a run of five consecutive league defeats but Davie Selke spurned two good late chances to win them all three points. Hannover have been on a similarly wretched run but remain bottom of the table with time running out.
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Borussia Mönchengladbach 1 - 2 RB Leipzig
A crucial battle in the race for the Champions League places ended with an away win. Marcel Halstenberg's penalty put the guests in front and the Leipzig defender doubled the score just after the break. Gladbach did manage to get one back, through Alessane Plea, but despite piling on the pressure, they couldn’t get the equalizer. Leipzig’s Champions League place is as good as sealed.
Image: imago/U. Kraft
Augsburg 6-0 Stuttgart
A thumping at the hands of his former club saw Stuttgart boss Markus Weinzierl get the chop with the club in danger of relegation. Rani Khedira, Andre Hahn, Philipp Max (twice) and Marco Richter (twice) were on the scoresheet for Augsburg. Their new coach, Martin Schmidt, now has six points in his two games in charge of the Bavarian side. It was Stuttgart's heaviest defeat this season.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/T. Weller
Schalke 2 - 5 Hoffenheim
One club grateful for Stuttgart's shocking form is Schalke, who took another pasting in a season to forget. In form Ishak Belfodil lashed in an early opener for Hoffenheim, who are making another late run for Europe, before adding the fifth after 80 minutes. In between, Andrej Kramaric, Adam Szalai and Nadiem Amiri helped themselves. Daniel Caligiuri and Guido Burgstaller added consolations.
Bayern Munich did not have an easy time against Florian Kohfeldt’s players, but the Green Whites could not cope with Milos Veljkovic’s dismissal just before the hour mark. The home side took the lead in the 75th minute through a deflected Niklas Süle shot. Werder Bremen’s unbeaten record in 2019 has come to an end.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Balk
Leverkusen 2-0 Nuermberg
Despite controlling the game, Peter Bosz’s players struggled to find the net at first. Until the 61st minute, that is, when Lucas Alario headed the ball in from inside the box. Kevin Volland sealed the deal in the 86th minute. Three important points for Leverkusen in the fight for European football.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/G. Kirchner
Mainz 3-1 Fortuna Düsseldorf
Mainz confirmed safety for another season with this win. It took Jean-Philippe Mateta just 35 seconds to score Mainz’s opener, this season’s quickest goal. Düsseldorf pulled one back through Watford loanee Dodi Lukebakio before Mainz took over in the second half.. A fine Karim Onisiwo finish in the 67th minute regained them the lead before Mateta added his second late on.
Image: imago/J. Huebner
Wolfsburg 1-1 Frankfurt
Easter Monday's game began with an inventive fan protest from traveling Frankfurt fans. With a placard saying "Monday games get on our eggs," with "eggs" being German slang similar meaning a man's balls, they threw hundreds of miniature balls onto the pitch. After an unusual Easter egg hunt for players, they went on to draw, with John Anthony Brooks rescuing a point at the last for the hosts.
Image: imago/J. Huebner
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In the first half, Kohfeldt's idea looked a sound one and more dropped points looked a possibility for the champions. Niko Kovac's iteration of Bayern Munich have struggled at several points this season to put sides away, whether conceding sloppy goals or failing to capitalize on periods of dominance. And until Niklas Süle's deflected 75th minute strike, it looked like that might be the case again.
The Bavarians struggled to adapt to Bremen's shape and physicality in the opening period but were happier to use the wide areas, Serge Gnabry in particular, to trouble their opponents after the break. Though the dismissal of Veljkovic helped, there was a relentlessness to Bayern's second half pressure that felt familiar to anyone who has watched the Bundesliga in the past six seasons. It felt like the muscle memory of this experienced team of title winners was starting to return.
Jiri Pavlenka made exceptional saves from Gnabry and Lewandowski, and Thomas Müller missed from close range before Süle's speculative drive deflected in.
A title-worthy performance
If the goal was fortunate, the win wasn't. For all that Kohfeldt's idea was sound, it was the first part of his comment that rang truest, Bayern do look the "strongest squad in Germany."
While the demolition of Borussia Dortmund earlier in the month was a statement of power and intent, this win by the Bavarians was the stuff titles are made of. Bayern came through a difficult opening, and found a way to beat stubborn opponents. It wasn't especially pretty and the profligacy of Gnabry, Müller and, late on, Lewandowski will be a concern for Niko Kovac.
But they got the job done once again and move four points clear ahead of Dortmund's trip to Freiburg on Sunday. They picked a good time to rediscover old habits.
That Bremen's scoring run should be dashed against the rocks at the Allianz Arena is of no huge surprise, with Saturday's shutout Bayern's fifth in a row at home. Another hurdle has been cleared as the title race enters its home straight. Bayern may not quite be at full pelt, but they know how to win from the front. Over to you, Dortmund.
