Lewandowski at least compensates: mega parade screwed up Bavaria's late triumph

Saturday 12th December 2020

Lewandowski at least compensates
Mega parade screwed up Bavaria's late triumph

1. FC Union proves why it is so high in the Bundesliga table. The team of coach Urs Fischer has FC Bayern under control for a long time. Until Robert Lewandowski scores his 13th goal of the season. But for the second time in a row, the Munich team dropped points – also thanks to Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe.

Thanks to world footballer candidate Robert Lewandowski, record champions Bayern Munich prevented a nasty surprise in the pre-Christmas Bundesliga final spurt. At the passionately fighting Underdog Union Berlin, the triple winner got a 1: 1 (0: 1) after a 0: 1 deficit. Despite the third draw from the past four league games, Munich remain the front runners for the time being, ahead of RB Leipzig, tied for second place in the table (both 24 points).

Star striker Lewandowski (67th) secured a point for the big favorite in the capital with his 13th goal of the season. Before that, Union midfielder Grischa Prömel (4th) gave Bayern the 17th goal in the eleventh Bundesliga game.

For the last two tasks before Christmas in the coming week, such a performance by coach Hansi Flick's team should hardly be enough. On Wednesday (8.30 p.m. / Sky) Bayern get it at home with VfL Wolfsburg and on the following Saturday (6.30 p.m. / both in the ntv.de live ticker) away with Bayer Leverkusen, who can take over the championship lead on Sunday with a win against TSG Hoffenheim. In between, Lewandowski wants to assert himself against Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in the election for the best footballer on the planet on Thursday.

Union awards more top-class players

Lewandowski does what Lewandowski does – score a goal.

(Photo: dpa)

Bayern were lucky against Union at the An der Alten Försterei stadium right from the start. After quickly conquering the ball in defense, the hosts overplayed the Bavarian lines in the opening minute, striker Taiwo Awoyini was free and only failed when Manuel Neuer parried brilliantly. Only minutes later, Prömel headed a corner from Union captain Christopher Trimmel past the far post into the goal.

Immediately after falling behind, the Champions League winner tried to control the game and play a productive combination game, but that was not enough for dangerous attacks. Compared to the 2-0 win against Lokomotiv Moscow during the week in the premier class, Flick changed his team to six positions, including problem child Leroy Sané initially outside. From Kingsley Coman, Thomas Müller and Serge Gnabry on the offensive behind Lewandowski, however, there was initially too little, Union cleared the crucial interfaces robustly – and set pinpricks. Almost congruent at the start of the game, Awoyini (22nd) refueled through the Bayern defense and this time aimed past the right aluminum in the duel with Neuer.

The best Munich chances to date were long shots from David Alaba (33rd) and Gnabry (43rd): One went past the goal, the other was fought off by Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe. The guests became a little more compelling after the half-time break, when Bayern tried again and again to get into the back of the Berlin defense. However, there was often a lack of accuracy in the passing game.

To get more momentum in the attack, Flick brought in the 63rd minute the last criticized Sané for the 17-year-old Jamal Musiala. Lewandowski finally marked the equalization after an outstanding solo by Coman through the Berlin ranks and a deliberate pass to the Pole, who only had to insert. As a result, the champion pushed hard for the late winner. But Luthe got a near goal out of the air just in time.