Hasan Salihamidzic happily high-fived Uli Hoeneß, and Oliver Kahn had no reason to slip out of his chair this time either. In the second top game of the super Sunday, FC Bayern put an end to their earnings crisis in the Bundesliga with a convincing 5-0 (2-0) win over SC Freiburg. The bosses were in high spirits.
Led by a strong triumvirate of Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry, coach Julian Nagelsmann’s team pushed past Freiburg and, as second in the table, is now Union Berlin’s first pursuer. After the second win in the past seven games, the gap is still four points, Freiburg has one point less.
In contrast to the past games in the Bundesliga, the record champions proved to be efficient in the end. Gnabry gave Munich an early lead after a strong opening minute by the guests (13′). The conspicuous Choupo-Moting, who was already involved in the creation of the first goal, increased after a pass from Sane (33rd) and again made it 3:0 (53rd). Then Sadio Mane lobbed in on a pass from Gnabry (56′), Marcel Sabitzer was also allowed to play (80′).
In addition to Manuel Neuer (shoulder) and the suspended Kingsley Coman, Nagelsmann also had to do without Thomas Müller (muscular problems), but he proved to have a talent for choosing alternatives. In contrast to the victory on Wednesday in the Champions League at Viktoria Pilsen (4: 2), Gnabry and Choupo-Moting started in the initial formation alongside the returnee Alphonso Davies.
In the intense initial phase, Bayern had difficulties getting the game and their opponents under control. Freiburg pressed high, was poisonous in the duels, narrowed the spaces and thereby prevented a controlled build-up of play by Munich.
But Bayern took the lead with the first quick attack: After a cross from the busy Davies, Sane initially failed at Mark Flekken, and Gnabry headed in the ball that was saved. Munich were much better in the game after that and increased the pressure. After a fine pass from Sane, Choupo-Moting beat Matthias Ginter and scored from a tight angle.
Freiburg had meanwhile failed to equalize. During a counterattack, however, Christian Günter was unable to pass the ball to Michael Gregoritsch, who had run with him and was completely free (25′). After conceding the second goal, the guests largely stuck to their plan of attacking early, but did not seem so convincing anymore.
In addition, Freiburg lacked the power in the penalty area that characterized FC Bayern. Last but not least, they were missing a man like Choupo-Moting, who almost scored another goal before being substituted in the 65th minute. After the Cameroon international’s back-heel, Gnabry, who in turn prepared Manes’ goal, hit the post (52′).
