Lewandowski scores again as Bayern edge closer to record 8th title


Lewandowski scores again as Bayern edge closer to record 8th title

Bayern Munich’s charge towards their 8th title continued with a convincing win over Leverkusen at the BayArena. Ruthless Bayern were at their offensive best and ran out as clear winners. Leverkusen came into the match with the opportunity to get into top 4 and their game plan was to threaten Bayern on counter attacks as they had done in the return fixture.

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Hansi Flick’s side wearing the ‘Black Lives Matter’ armbands came into the match with a 7-point lead at top of the table. Leverkusen missed the services of Kai Havertz who was out of the game due to injury.

Bayern looked to struggle initially and were sloppy at the back during the build-up of Leverkusen’s first goal. It was a dream start for Leverkusen as Lucas Alario was sent through and Neuer conceded on his near post. It all went downhill after that. Once Bayern got their foothold in the match there was no stopping them.

Bayern were back in the business and scored three quick goals. Bayern were pressing high and Diaby was caught in possession by Goretzka inside his own half who sent Coman through on goal and he made no mistake to make it 1-1. Hansi Flick’s side then stepped up the gears and started dominating the ball.

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Goretzka added a second from outside the box after getting clear in the middle. As Leverkusen played a high line they were getting caught at the back due to the pace of Bayern’s wingers. One such chance allowed Gnabry to go through on goal, but he fluffed his lines. However, no mistake was made 2 minutes later when a long ball from Kimmich sent Gnabry through who lobbed the ball over the outcoming keeper. The half time score read as 3-1 to Bayern as they were in control of the game.

Peter Bosz responded at half time as he made three changes to improve Leverkusen attack and create more chances. However, it was Flick’s side who were looking much improved and it was their main man Lewandowski who powered his header for his 44th goal of the campaign to record his personal best tally from a wonderful cross by Thomas Mueller who equalled Kevin De Bruyne’s assist tally of 20. Late in the game, Leverkusen’s half time substitute, the 17-year-old Florian Wirtz scored his first goal for Leverkusen becoming the youngest goal-scorer in Bundesliga at 17 years and 34 days.

The win for Bayern takes them closer to their 8th title while Leverkusen’s loss means they still remained on 5th missing the chance to get into the top 4 after Monchengladbach’s 1-0 loss against Freiburg. Next for them is a tie against fourth-tier Saarbrucken in DFB Pokal while Bayern host Frankfurt in the other semi-final tie.